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1953 Map of Medanales

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Medanales
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Medanales serves as the central settlement on this mid-century survey, positioned along the banks of the Rio Chama within the historic Juan Jose Lobato Grant. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation ditches supporting valley agriculture, contrasted by the arid, elevated terrain of the Llano de Juan Jose. The community core is anchored by the San Antonio Church, with rural life extending to the Quarter Circle Ranch and several family-named landmarks.

Drainage systems dominate the surrounding topography, including the deep Cañon de la Madera and numerous arroyos such as Arroyo del Perro and Arroyo de los Pinos that feed into the river valley. To the northwest, the Carson National Forest boundary marks the transition to more mountainous terrain, while the northeastern quadrant features the elevated waters of Lagunitas Las. The presence of the Juan Jose Lobato Grant Boundary illustrates the enduring influence of traditional land grants on the region's geography.