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2013 Map of Oil Center

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Oil Center
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The unincorporated community of Oil Center stands as a focal point in this high-desert landscape of Lea County, characterized by the industrial infrastructure of the Permian Basin. This 2013 survey illustrates the dense network of county roads and oil field access routes, such as CO Road 21 and Lynx Ln, that serve the region's energy economy. Significant mineral operations are documented at the San Simon Oil Field and the Monument Jal Oil Field, reflecting the area's continued role in petroleum extraction.

Water management is essential to this arid environment, evidenced by scattered catchments and impoundments like Murphy Tank, Sheep Tank, and the larger Rock Lake Reservoir. While much of the terrain is defined by its industrial utility, the inclusion of a Po (Post Office) and a grid of township and range lines like t21s r36e provides a clear view of the settlement patterns and land divisions that have shaped this corner of New Mexico.