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1958 Map of Santa Fe

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Santa Fe
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Sangre De Cristo Mountains dominate the western horizon of this mid-century New Mexico landscape, giving way to the high plains and mesas of the east. This 1958 survey captures the critical transportation corridors of the era, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Southern Pacific Railroad converge near the Canadian River and Pecos River drainage systems. Historic outposts like the Fort Union (Ruins) north of Watrous stand as markers of the frontier era, while the growing footprint of Santa Fe and Las Vegas reflects the state's post-war expansion.

The map reveals a transition from the dense timber of the Santa Fe National Forest to the ranching country of Mora County and San Miguel County. Dozens of family-named landmarks such as Upton Ranch and Thompson Ranch are scattered across the plains, interspersed with small educational hubs like Tuloso School and Trementina School. Geologic features like Maxson Crater and Cuervo Hill provide essential orientation for researchers tracing old cattle routes and early highway alignments like U.S. 66.