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1982 Map of Prairie Spring

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

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Prairie Spring serves as a focal point in this high desert landscape, which is defined by isolated ranching outposts and ephemeral watercourses. The 1982 map details a sparsely populated territory where life and industry centered on scattered water sources like Fisher Tank and seasonal drainages such as Cañada Quemada and Arroyo Chupadera. Family heritage is deeply embedded in the land, with several named properties including the Jones Ranch, Rancho Ojo del Llano, and the Muncy Ranch marking the transition between open range and the distinct peak of Cerro Pardo.

A network of windmills, including the Lower Windmill, Gonzales Windmill, and Duffy Windmill, illustrates the infrastructure required to sustain cattle in this environment. Evidence of early extractive activity is visible through several Prospects and a Gravel Pit located near the Sand Windmill, while modern utility is represented by multiple Radio Facility sites, reflecting the late 20th-century development of this remote New Mexico region.