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1981 Map of Progresso

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

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Progresso anchors the high plains of Torrance County in this 1981 survey, where the rugged topography of the Mesa de los Jumano transitions into the protected lands of the Cibola National Forest. The landscape is defined by its water management, evidenced by a dense network of remote wells and windmills often named for local ranching families, such as the Houston Windmill, Garcia Windmill, and Wiltbank Windmill. These features indicate the essential infrastructure required for livestock in a territory carved by deep drainages like Bell Canyon and Pueblo Blanco Canyon.

Evidence of early habitation and resource extraction is scattered across the quadrangle, from the Gravel Pit in the northeast to the Ruins Windmill in the south. The mapping of Willard Tank and Progresso West Tank highlights the persistent efforts to capture runoff in this arid environment. The map provides a detailed look at the rural character of the region during the late twentieth century, capturing the specific locations of family-named landmarks and water sources crucial for genealogical research in this part of New Mexico.