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1891 Map of Las Vegas

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Las Vegas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

The Las Vegas township serves as the central hub of this northern New Mexico territory, positioned where the high plains meet the Sangre de Cristo foothills. The presence of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad illustrates the vital transport corridor that connected this region to the wider American West. Nearby, Hot Springs marks a specific point of local geography that likely served as a significant landmark for travelers and residents alike.

North of the city, Fort Union stands as a primary military and logistical outpost on the boundary of Mora and San Miguel counties. The landscape is defined by the drainages of the Mora River, Sapello Creek, and Gallinas Creek, which supported a network of small plazas and agricultural settlements such as La Cueva, Loma Parda, and Tecolote. These scattered communities, often named for local families or geography like Peñasco Blanco and San Geronimo, reflect the established Hispanic settlement patterns of the late nineteenth century.