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1966 Map of Optimo

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Optimo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Santa Fe Trail (Cimarron Cutoff) strikes a historic diagonal path across this Mora County landscape, running parallel to the modern corridor of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. This 1960s survey documents a region defined by high-plains hydrology and ranching, where the eastern slopes of the Turkey Mountains give way to a network of drainage features like Arroyo Chorro and Arroyo Blanca.

Settlement patterns are sparse, represented by the Ciruela (Site) and the namesake rail point at Optimo. Significant local landmarks include the Christmas Ranch and water sources like Calleys Lake and Turkey Creek. This map captures the transition from the rugged upland terrain to the open prairie, preserving the alignment of one of the West's most famous migratory routes before significant modern alterations.