1982 Map of Selden Canyon

About this map

Rio Grande waters carve through the heart of this desert landscape, framed by the deep incisions of Selden Canyon and the prominent heights of Tonuco Mountain. By the early 1980s, this area of the Rincon Valley was defined by large-scale institutional land use and transportation corridors. The New Mexico State University Animal Science Ranch occupies a vast portion of the central terrain, while the historic route of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks the river's winding course. This orthophotomap provides a clear look at the arid topography, revealing numerous prospects and small mines that dot the slopes of Cedar Hill and the Selden Hills. Settlements are sparse, though the proximity of Radium Springs and the small station at Foster indicate the vital role of the river valley in supporting life and transit in the southern New Mexico desert.