1963 Map of Indian Draw

About this map

Water management defines the settlement pattern in this arid Otero County landscape during the early 1960s. Scattered catchment points such as Munson Tank, Merrit Tank, and Smith Tank dot the high ground, providing vital resources for livestock in a region dominated by a complex network of ephemeral drainages. The map traces the rugged paths of Indian Draw, Moccasin Draw, and Rough Draw, which carve deep contours through the terrain. Evidence of ranching infrastructure is visible in the placement of Johnson Well and McLane Tank, alongside a single north-south pipeline that cuts across the southeastern sections. These features, combined with family-named landmarks like Waldie, offer a detailed record of how land was utilized and subdivided before more modern developments altered the character of these remote basin-and-range slopes.