1962 Map of Horseshoe Bend

About this map

Rio Hondo carves through the arid landscape of Chaves and Lincoln counties, creating the dramatic geological feature of Horseshoe Bend. In the early 1960s, this area was characterized by a network of ranching operations and water management, illustrated by the presence of Mennecke Ranch, Elevenmile Ranch, and the Bar H Ranch. Remnants of earlier settlement are visible at the Francisco Cordova Homestead (Ruins), while modern developments such as the Landing Strip and Roadside Park indicate the era's infrastructure growth. The land is defined by a series of intermittent drainage systems like Thirteenmile Draw and California Draw, which feed toward the river. Numerous windmills, including the Highway Windmill and Bloom Windmill, highlight the critical importance of subterranean water access for the Border Farm and surrounding livestock operations in this high-desert environment.