1952 Map of Isleta

About this map

Rio Grande floodplains and volcanic heights define this mid-century portrait of the Middle Rio Grande Valley south of Albuquerque. The landscape is a complex web of agricultural engineering, where the Isleta Diversion Dam feeds a network of historic waterways including the Peralta Main Canal, Pajarito Ditch, and Albuquerque Riverside Drain. These systems supported the agricultural life of Pajarito, Los Padillas, and Isleta Pueblo, while the massive basalt landforms of Black Mesa and Parea Mesa rise sharply to the west. Evidence of deep-rooted community life is visible in the placement of the Old Pajarito Sch, the Mountainview Mission, and several family and community burial grounds such as Los Padillas Cem. The infrastructure of movement is equally prominent, featuring the historic route of El Camino Real and the busy corridor of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which parallels the river's course through the valley floor.