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1918 Map of Pelona

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Pelona
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The Plains of San Agustin dominate this 1915-1916 survey, representing a vast high-altitude basin where early ranching life and transportation routes converged. This period in Catron County reveals a landscape structured by water access and stage travel, notably at the Horse Spr Stage Station where the Magdalena Road meets the western highlands. Ranching families established significant holdings across the flats and foothills, including the Fullerton Ranch, Gutierrez Ranch, and the Tut Ranch.

The terrain is defined by the Continental Divide, which snakes through the southern portion of the quadrangle past Pelona Mtn and Bar O Mtn. This topography creates a complex network of canyons, such as Turkey Spring Canyon, and isolated peaks like John Kerr Pk in the Tularosa Mountains. Remote outposts like the North Star Ranger Sta and Bat Cave Wells illustrate the logistical challenges of land management and resource extraction in this high-desert environment before the expansion of modern infrastructure.