1961 Map of Monticello

About this map

Monticello and the nearby village of Placitas sit at the center of this 1961 field-checked survey of New Mexico's high desert. The landscape is defined by the canyon network of Alamosa Creek, where agricultural life is sustained by the Community Ditch. Local landmarks including St Ignatius Ch and the Monticello Cem anchor the community, while the Rodeo Ground hints at the area's ranching culture. To the north, the boundary between Socorro and Sierra counties cuts through the Cibola National Forest. The map details numerous water sources essential to this arid environment, from the Shipman Well and Stanley Spring to livestock-focused points like Bill Tank and Jose Maria Well. High points such as Seferino Hill and Fifty-fifty Hill overlook a complex system of draws and canyons, including the prominent Monticello Canyon.