Loading map...

1949 Map of Peters Lake

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Peters Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Peters Lake and its surrounding high desert terrain appear here as they were surveyed in the late 1940s. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral drainage systems of Thirteenmile Draw and Zubi Draw, which carve through the Chaves County plains. Significant for Cold War historians, the map identifies Walker Air Base Auxiliary Landing Field No 1 and Walker Air Base Auxiliary Landing Field No 3, highlighting the importance of the Roswell region for military aviation training during this era.

For genealogists and local historians, the sheet is a record of early water-access points and homesteads, many already noted as abandoned by the mid-20th century. Named sites like Jenkins Ranch and Loving Place offer clues to the ranching families of the area, while the mention of Blackdom Well points to the legacy of the historic African American colony of Blackdom, which was located in this vicinity. Numerous other groundwater sources, including Peters Well and Greening Well, underscore the vital role of wells in sustaining life in this arid environment.