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1987 Map of Rayado

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Rayado
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Philmont Scout Ranch occupies the northern reaches of this New Mexico landscape, where the high mesa country meets historic travel corridors. The map documents a transition from the elevated plateaus of Kit Carson Mesa and Rayado Mesa down toward the drainage of Rayado Creek. Central to the geography is the Beaubien and Miranda (Maxwell) grant, a massive tract of land that shaped settlement patterns in this part of Colfax County. Evidence of the region’s ranching and scout heritage is visible through sites like Rayado Camp, Sweetwater Cow Camp, and the tiny settlement of Rayado.

Tracing the northeastern corner, the Santa Fe Trail follows a path near Moras Creek, marking the historical route through the territory. The map also highlights the importance of water management in this arid environment, featuring irrigation and storage points like Miami Lake and a Gaging Station on the creek. For those researching local history, the inclusion of a Cem near the Rayado settlement provides a specific point of interest for genealogical study.