1995 Map of Mesa Cortada

About this map

Large Spanish land grants define the administrative history of this McKinley County landscape, where the Ignacio Chavez Grant and Felipe Tafoya Grant cover significant acreage. The terrain is marked by dramatic geological formations like the Battleship and Mesa Cortada, while the Cibola National Forest encompasses the southern highlands, including Cerro Colorado. Local ranching roots are evident at the Rancho de la Punta (Site) and the Michael Ranch, settlements that relied on scarce water sources such as Ojo Navaho and the Chico Arroyo. Throughout the region, various Oil Wells indicate the intersections of extraction and agriculture in the late twentieth century, set against the backdrop of the San Miguel Creek Dome.