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1966 Map of Sand Hill

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Sand Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Carrizo Creek and Garcia Creek wind through this high plains landscape of Union County, New Mexico, during the mid-1960s. The terrain is defined by a series of essential water-access points, marked by family-named and directional landmarks like Domingues Windmill, Means Windmill, and West Windmill. These features indicate a ranching economy reliant on groundwater where surface water is seasonal or scarce.

Elevated landmarks like the Cedar Hills and the eponymous Sand Hill provide topographic variety in an otherwise open range. The presence of Thomas Cam and the network of windmills scattered across the quadrangle, including the Middle Windmill and East Windmill, suggest a remote but managed territory. This map records the practical infrastructure of the high desert, from the path of Sand Draw to the specific placements of vital cattle-rearing resources.