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1916 Map of La Joya

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of La Joya
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The Rio Grande valley and its confluence with the Rio Puerco define this central New Mexico landscape during a period of significant railway development. The map prominently features the Belen Grant, Casa Colorado Grant, and Sevilleta Grant, highlighting the lingering boundaries of early Spanish land grants. Strategic transportation routes are evident along the A. T. & S. F. R. R. (Belen Cut Off), which skirts the Valencia Socorro County Line near the settlement of Becker.

N.H. Darton’s reconnaissance topography captures the transition from river bottomlands to the dramatic volcanic features of the east, including Pyramid Crater and Cibolo Cone. Smaller settlements such as La Joya and Garcia y Goebel appear as isolated hubs within the varied terrain. This survey provides a critical view of the region's water sources, including Coyote Spring and Prairie Spring, which were essential for ranching and railway operations in this arid corridor.