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1964 Map of Silver Hill

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Silver Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Silver Hill and the surrounding high desert of Socorro County are defined by a network of isolated homesteads and ephemeral water sources. This mid-1960s landscape, much of it protected within the Cibola National Forest, centers on the Bear Mountains where seasonal drainage systems like Council Rock Arroyo and Montosa Arroyo carve through the terrain. The survival of local ranching operations is evidenced by named improvements such as Threemile Ranch, Bear Springs Ranch, and Joe Well.

Cultural history is rooted in the presence of Indian Ruins and a small Prospect site, suggesting long-standing human activity in this arid environment. The map details a complex system of livestock infrastructure including Little Buckhorn Tank and Dry Lake, which were critical for managing cattle across the canyons. The geography is dominated by deep incisions such as Gallinas Canyon and Bear Canyon, highlighting the natural barriers that shaped settlement patterns in this part of New Mexico.