2013 Map of Kenna

About this map

The high plains settlement of Kenna serves as the focal point for this survey along the border of Chaves and Roosevelt counties. Located near a Post Office and the crossing of significant local roadways, the area's history is anchored by Kenna Cemetery and the Old Kenna Cemetery. The landscape is defined by its reliance on subterranean water, illustrated by numerous named wells such as Pioneer Well, Wooden Wheel Well, and the Doodlebug Windmill. Surface water is ephemeral, appearing in features like Kenna Draw and shallow depressions such as Beaver Lake, Fry Lake, and Sealey Lake. This network of watering points and draws like Falsey Draw suggests a ranching economy where water security dictated the placement of homesteads and infrastructure in the arid New Mexico environment.