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1979 Map of Magdalena

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Magdalena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Magdalena and the nearby settlement of Kelly serve as focal points in this 1979 survey of Socorro County. This high-altitude desert landscape is defined by the convergence of the Magdalena Mountains, Datil Mountains, and Gallinas Mountains, which overlook the expansive San Agustin Plains. The map records a moment when the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reached its terminus in the area, a critical link for the local mining and livestock economy.

Beyond the primary towns, smaller locales like Puertecito, Datil, and Guthrieville are documented alongside numerous water sources such as Dog Springs and Bear Springs. The inclusion of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and large tracts of the Cibola National Forest highlights the region's managed wilderness. Prominent peaks including Crosby Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain anchor the terrain, while drainage systems like the Rio Salado and Rio Puerco carve through the basin and range geology.