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1972 Map of Milnesand SW

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Milnesand SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Vandiver Oil Field stretches across the high plains of Eastern New Mexico, defining the industrial character of this desert landscape in the early 1970s. The map captures an era of active petroleum extraction along the border of Roosevelt and Lea Counties, where a dense network of Oil Wells, Drill Holes, and Pumping Stations are the primary markers of human activity. The lack of named settlements or permanent towns emphasizes the remote, specialized nature of this district, which functioned as a workspace for the regional energy industry.

Beyond the oil infrastructure, the terrain is marked by numerous Gravel Pits and scattered water Wells, essential for both road maintenance and ranching operations in this arid environment. Fine red dashed lines throughout the quadrangle indicate selected fence lines, tracing the boundaries of large private holdings like the Johnson Ranch south of the county line. The map serves as a detailed spatial record of resource extraction and land management on the Llano Estacado.