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1981 Map of Pope

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Pope
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor anchors this high-desert landscape in Socorro County, passing through the small settlement of Pope and the descriptively named Hard Luck Crossing. The territory is dominated by the expansive Lava fields that characterize this portion of the Jornada del Muerto, an arid stretch of New Mexico historical importance. The map clearly delineates the massive Pedro Armendaris Grant No. 33, providing a look at the historical land grant boundaries that still influence modern property lines and regional planning.

Water management is the primary sign of human activity in this harsh environment, evidenced by scattered infrastructure such as Santa Fe Well, Antelope Well, Crater Well, and Middle Well. A prominent Pipeline and the Government Road underscore the logistical importance of this corridor. To the northwest, the map captures a portion of Elephant Butte Lake State Park, where the terrain shifts toward the reservoir's edge, contrasting with the volcanic features found further east near Jornada.