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1971 Map of Kiowa

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Kiowa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Kiowa Flats and the surrounding volcanic terrain of northeastern New Mexico dominate this 1971 survey. The landscape is defined by its distinct mesas and craters, most notably the prominent Horseshoe Crater and Melon Mesa, which rise sharply above the high plains. Human presence is sparse, centered on the settlement of Kiowa and the Mountain View Cem near the border of Colfax and Union Counties.

Transportation history is etched into the earth through Old Railroad Grades and the Fort Union Road, indicating the area's importance for early transit before the modern highway era. Water sources, vital in this arid environment, are recorded at Kiowa Springs, Capulin Lake, and Widow Lake. The presence of a Gravel Pit and various improved and unimproved roads suggests a quiet, resource-based economy on the edge of the volcanic fields.