1919 Map of Playas

About this map

The arid Playas Valley of New Mexico is dominated by the seasonal waters of Playas Lake, which stretches nearly the entire length of this survey. To the west, the Animas Mountains rise sharply from the basin floor, where Whitmire Pass provides a navigable route through the high peaks. The region’s connectivity in the early twentieth century was defined by the El Paso and Southwestern railroad, which skirts the northern end of the basin, supporting the small settlement of Playas and the rail stop at Antelope. Family-run operations like Whitmire Ranch near the lakeshore illustrate the scattered ranching life of the era, while the map also tracks the shifting administrative boundary between Hidalgo and Grant counties.