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1940 Map of Heuco Tanks

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Heuco Tanks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

The Hueco Mountains dominate the eastern half of this terrain, providing a stark backdrop to the high desert ranching lands just before the onset of the Second World War. This landscape is defined by the critical search for water, evidenced by a network of isolated outposts such as Escontrias Ranch, Deep Well Ranch, and family-named landmarks like Nations East Well and Helms West Well.

Tracing through the basin, the Old Butterfield Trail follows a diagonal path that reflects the historic overland mail routes of the previous century, now superseded by the straighter line of the Carlsbad Highway. An Airway Beacon positioned along the highway marks the introduction of modern navigation technology to this arid expanse. The boundary between New Mexico and Texas is clearly delineated along the northern edge, where Hot Well and Joint Well sit directly on the state line.