1967 Map of Haystack Mountain

About this map

Haystack Mountain rises above the arid high plains of Chaves County, anchoring a landscape defined by ranching and energy infrastructure during the late 1960s. The map illustrates a sparse settlement pattern characterized by isolated homesteads like Smith Ranch and Faircloth Ranch, linked by the Olive Road and an extensive network of pipelines. To the south, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts across the terrain near the small community of Acme, while features such as High Lonesome and Palma Mesa indicate the rugged topography of the area. Water remains the critical resource here, marked by numerous oil wells and scattered watering points like Leslie Spring and North Samples Well. The juxtaposition of natural drainages such as Sixmile Draw against industrial developments highlights the mid-century evolution of the New Mexico interior.