1981 Map of Shaw Mountain

About this map

Shaw Mountain and Eds Peak dominate this landscape in Catron County, New Mexico. The geography is defined by a series of high-elevation peaks and deep drainages, including the prominent Shaw Canyon. In this arid region, water sources were critical for ranching and survival, as evidenced by the dispersed network of named water points such as Ocho Juan Well, Thurgood Well, Cawley Well, and Fullerton Spring. A singular Grave marked near the center of the sheet provides a poignant point of interest for local historians, suggesting an isolated interment far from established settlements. The 1981 mapping, based on aerial photography from the mid-1970s, illustrates a sparsely populated terrain where livestock management and the pursuit of water were the primary drivers of human movement across the high desert.