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1981 Map of Little Black Peak

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Little Black Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Malpais dominates this arid landscape, where ancient volcanic flows create a sharp contrast against the surrounding high desert terrain. Centered on the cinder cone of Little Black Peak, the map documents a rugged environment where water management is the primary marker of human presence. Dozens of isolated tanks and windmills, such as Billy Bob Tank, Ashbey Tank, and the Malpais Windmill, provide essential water sources for cattle across this expanse of lava beds and canyons.

Settlement is sparse, anchored by family-named holdings like Brock Ranch and Gulcher Ranch. The boundary between Socorro and Lincoln counties cuts across the northern half of the sheet, while Iron Mine Road provides a lone corridor of access through the western draws. For genealogists and land historians, the placement of these named tanks and windmills offers a precise record of ranching infrastructure in central New Mexico during the late twentieth century.