1972 Map of Riley Canyon

About this map

The Purgatoire River carves a winding path through this corner of Otero and Las Animas counties, defining a landscape of deep canyons and isolated cattle-ranching infrastructure. In the early 1970s, this area remained largely dependent on scattered water sources, evidenced by Girard Windmill, Little Windmill, and River Windmill, alongside numerous natural springs like Antone Spring and Good Pasture Spring. The map reveals a thin layer of human settlement centered around the river and its tributaries, including the Penitenta Ch and the Martinez Cem situated near the head of Ninemile Valley.