1950 Map of Oscura

About this map

White Sands Proving Grounds dominates the western landscape of this 1950 survey, where the Military Reservation Boundary cuts through the high desert. Life in this arid region of the Lincoln and Otero County line centers on vital water sources like Malagro Springs, Keen Spring, and Lopez Spring. The settlement of Oscura serves as a lonely outpost along the Southern Pacific railroad, which also features North Siding. Between the peaks of the Phillips Hills and Godfrey Hills, the map reveals the remnants of earlier habitation, specifically marked ruins and small groupings at Kimmons and Cora Crew. The presence of numerous windmills suggests a landscape defined by ranching and the constant search for groundwater in the shadows of the White Sands terrain.