1979 Map of San Mateo Mountains

About this map

The San Mateo Mountains dominate the center of this high-desert landscape, where the Continental Divide winds through the western reaches of the Cibola National Forest. This mapping project, compiled from surveys between 1961 and 1979, illustrates the complex intersection of public forest lands and large private holdings like Pedro Armendaris No 34. In the eastern corridor, the Rio Grande feeds into the Elephant Butte Reservoir, creating a vital water source against the backdrop of the Magdalena Mountains. Human activity is marked by small settlements such as Monticello and Dusty, and the industrial footprint of the Rosedale Mine and Bell Mine. The western edge transitions into the Plains of San Agustin, while the southern reaches reveal the northern extent of the Black Range and the Gila National Forest.