1985 Map of Lanark

About this map

Southern Pacific railroad tracks form the primary infrastructure of this Chihuahuan Desert landscape, cutting a straight diagonal from the northwest to the southeast. Along this industrial corridor, the map records the small settlement of Lanark and the location of Vevay, both situated to serve the rail line in this arid region of Doña Ana County. Water management for steam-era or maintenance needs is evidenced by the presence of Lanark Tank, located just west of the main cluster of buildings at Lanark. The terrain is characterized by subtle contour changes and sandy basins, where the absence of dense development highlights how critical the railroad was to the connectivity and survival of these outposts in the late twentieth century.