1967 Map of Howell Ranch

About this map

The De Baca Co Chaves Co line crosses a high desert landscape defined by essential water infrastructure in the late 1960s. Ranching operations like Howell Ranch, Gammill Ranch, and West Camp dominate the territory, supported by a network of windmills and wells necessary for survival in the arid environment. Features such as Grimes Windmill, Ashbacker Windmill, and Cordell Windmill mark the locations of vital groundwater access across the open range. The topography is carved by ephemeral drainage patterns, most notably White Draw and Sand Draw, which channel seasonal runoff through the basin. A remote Landing Strip in the southwest corner and scattered exploration markers like a Drill Hole point to the logistical requirements of managing large-scale New Mexico landholdings and mineral interests during this era.