1891 Map of Mesa De Maya

About this map

Deep canyons and isolated mesas define this 1890 survey of the high plains in Las Animas County. The terrain is dominated by the massive Mesa De Maya, which towers over the surrounding landscape alongside Chicorico Mesa and the Black Buttes. Settlement is sparse, represented by small outposts such as Troy and Indianapolis, while the Denver Texas & Ft Worth railroad cuts across the southwestern corner near Watervale. This mapping captures a transitional era when the open range was increasingly segmented by rail and cattle ranching, illustrated by the network of named drainages like Chaquaqua Canon, Lobo Canon, and Vachita Canon. The presence of West Carrizo Creek and Chaguaqua Creek highlights the critical importance of water sources in this arid ranching country just before the turn of the century.