Loading map...

1899 Map of Mt. Taylor

Name: 1899 Topographic Map of Mt. Taylor
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

Mt. Taylor dominates this 1883 survey, which documents the territory before New Mexico achieved statehood. The landscape is characterized by high plateaus and volcanic geography, including the extensive Lava Field and the San Mateo Mts. To the south, the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad follows the valley of the San Jose River, connecting a string of early settlements such as Cubero, San Jose, and Laguna.

Genealogists will find notable established communities and outposts, including San Rafael, the site of Old Fort Wingate, and the remote Casa Salazar (Miller P.O.) near the Puerco River. The map also captures the complex early county boundaries of McKinley, Valencia, and Sandoval, providing a clear look at the region's civil organization and the network of springs like Willow Spring and Coal Spring that supported life in this arid environment.