1964 Map of Ortega Tank

About this map

Mesa Rica dominates this high-plains landscape where San Miguel and Guadalupe counties meet, characterized by deep incisions like Montoya Canyon and Ortega Canyon. The 1964 field data reveals a ranching economy dependent on a network of man-made water sources and family-named landmarks. Numerous water features are scattered across the terrain, including the Mitchell Windmill, Tarkington Windmill, and Benavidez Windmills, alongside various tanks such as Aragon Tank and Padilla Tank. These named features provide specific geographic anchors for genealogists and local historians tracking land use in this part of New Mexico. The presence of a Radio Tower and an underground Pipeline suggests the mid-century modernization of this remote mesa, even as traditional drainage patterns like La Manga Creek and Caracita Creek continue to define the physical geography of the basin.