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2013 Map of Socorro

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Socorro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Socorro and its surrounding high-desert terrain are defined by the sharp contrast between the Rio Grande valley and the formidable Socorro Mountains to the west. This 2013 survey documents a complex irrigation and water management system essential to the region, featuring the Rio Grande Main Conveyance Channel, the Socorro Riverside Drain, and various historic ditches like the Luis Lopez Ditch and Green Ditch. The presence of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Socorro Municipal Airport signifies the town's role as a modern scientific and transit hub, while the BNSF Railway continues a long legacy of rail transport through the valley.

Genealogists and local historians can locate established burial grounds such as San Miguel Cem and La Parida Cem, as well as older settlement footprints at Pueblito, Escondida, and Florida. The landscape is further marked by significant geological and natural features, including Socorro Peak, the Socorro Thermal area, and numerous springs such as Socorro Spring and Sedillo Spring, which have historically sustained life in this arid climate.