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1951 Map of Ninemile Well

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Ninemile Well
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Isolated ranching operations and water infrastructure define this mid-century portrait of the New Mexico plains. The landscape is marked by essential landmarks for survival and livestock management, such as the namesake Ninemile Well and numerous family-named outposts including Greer Ranch, King Ranch, and Derrick Ranch. Water management is the primary human imprint on the land, evidenced by the scattered network of named wind-powered pumps like the Rattlesnake Windmill, Walker Windmill, and Haynes Windmill.

Natural drainage patterns like Long Arroyo and Buffalo Derrick Draw carve through the terrain, illustrating the importance of topographic features in a region defined by its aridity. A single Pipe Line and a Pumping Station cut across the northern sections, signaling the industrial overlay on this traditional ranching country. For the researcher, the map preserves the specific locations of these high-plains homesteads and the vital water points that sustained them.