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2011 Map of Pinon

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Pinon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Piñon stands as the primary settlement in this high-desert ranching landscape of southern New Mexico, where water management defines the pattern of human activity. The presence of numerous named earthen structures, such as Dipping Vat Tank, School Section Tank, and Resley Tank, underscores the critical importance of livestock water sources in the arid high country. Family names are etched into the geography through holdings like Sowell Ranch, Havens Ranch, and Coupland Ranch, reflecting the area's ongoing identity as a ranching hub.

The topography is sculpted by drainage features like Bonita Draw and Behringer Canyon, while localized basins hold Richardson Lake and Shockley Lake. For genealogists and local historians, the Piñon Cemetery north of the main village serves as a vital record of the community's established history in Otero County. Modern access is traced via roads with evocative names such as Wistful Vis and Dorothy Rd, connecting these isolated rangeland outposts.