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1962 Map of Lake Valley

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Lake Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Lake Valley and its storied mining history are the focal point of this southwestern New Mexico landscape as it was recorded in the early 1960s. The settlement is flanked by the Bridal Chamber Mine and a local Cem, reflecting the boom-and-bust cycle of the region's mineral wealth. Evidence of past industry and transport is visible in the Old Railroad Grade and the A T & S F rail line cutting through the high desert terrain.

The map is defined by a dense network of family-named cattle operations and remote outposts, including the C McKinney Ranch, Lee Mountain Ranch, and Parker Ranch. These sites are scattered across a landscape of sharp relief, from the southern reaches of the Gila National Forest and the Mimbres Mountains down to the Cooke Range. Numerous water sources, such as Indian Springs, Mule Springs, and Walnut Spring, reveal the essential lifelines for ranching in this arid environment, while the path of Macho Creek and Berenda Creek organize the drainage of the rugged hills.