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1914 Map of Raton

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Raton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

The high desert and mesa country of the New Mexico-Colorado borderlands are defined here by the critical rail corridors and early coal mining operations of the early 20th century. Raton sits as the central hub beneath Bartlett Mesa, where the At&SF RR pierces the landscape through the Raton Tunnel. This intersection of geography and industry is evident in the cluster of company towns and mining settlements like Blossburg, Gardiner, and Sugarite, which were essential to the region's energy economy.

Tracing the path of the Canadian River and Chicorica Creek reveals a network of historical landmarks, including the notable Clifton House and the high-elevation settlements of Yankee and Keota. The map documents the intricate surveying history of the state line, noting both the Darling Line 1868 and the Carpenter Line 1902, reflecting the legal complexities of western territory expansion and resource management.