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1961 Map of Priest Tank

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Priest Tank
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Placitas and the surrounding high desert of Sierra County are defined here by a sophisticated network of water management in an arid landscape. The Monticello Community Ditch and Cuchillo Community Ditch trace the contours of the land, illustrating the communal irrigation systems essential for settlement in this part of New Mexico. The terrain is marked by deep incisions like Monticello Canyon and the Cañada de la Alamosa River, while numerous stock tanks such as Priest Tank, Frank Tank, and Ignacio Pares Tank suggest the importance of ranching during this era.

Local history is etched into the names of the landscape, from the prominent Roces Ramos Peak in the Roces Hills to family-named features like Lopez Windmill and Garcia Tank. Evidence of early industrial activity persists in Old Mill Canyon, while a Gravel Pit near Willow Spring Draw points to more contemporary resource extraction. The map also records finer details of land division, noting selected fence lines across the draws and canyons.