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1955 Map of Orogrande North

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Orogrande North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Mining operations in the southern reaches of Otero County define this mid-century survey of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape. The Jarilla Mountains rise sharply in the west, harboring a cluster of mineral sites including the Iron Queen Mine, Alice Mine, and Maggie Baird Mine. These peaks are punctuated by natural features like Monte Carlo Gap and Water Canyon, while the valley floor shows the infrastructure required to support life and industry in an arid climate, specifically the Aqueduct and scattered tanks like Hard Luck Tank.

Transportation and utility networks bisect the basin, with the Southern Pacific railroad running parallel to an Old Railroad Grade and a telephone line. The settlement of Orogrande serves as a primary hub in the south, while the smaller location of Turquoise sits further north along the tracks. These small desert outposts and the presence of scattered ruins illustrate the shifting fortunes of New Mexico's mining districts during the early to mid-twentieth century.