1952 Map of La Joya NW

About this map

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding Sevilleta Grant dominate this landscape, capturing a transition between high-desert plateaus and the dramatic slopes of the Sierra Ladrones in the southwestern corner. This mid-century survey, based on Tennessee Valley Authority photogrammetry from 1951, provides a detailed record of the drainage patterns and water management required in this arid environment. Key water sources like Rio Puerco and the Cañada Colorado carve through the terrain, while scattered landmarks such as a Windmill, Well, and Storage Tank indicate the ongoing human effort to sustain ranching or conservation activities. Boundary lines, including the Belen Grant and the New Mexico Principal Meridian, reflect the complex land-use history and cadastral surveying of Socorro County.