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1959 Map of Socorro

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Socorro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Socorro and the fertile Rio Grande valley serve as the centerpiece of this 1959 study, illustrating a landscape defined by an intricate system of irrigation and transport. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad runs parallel to the river, connecting a string of agricultural settlements including Polvadera, Lemitar, and Escondida. These communities rely on a sophisticated network of water engineering, from the Socorro Main Canal and Lemitar Ditch to the Chamisal Drain, which manage the Rio Grande waters for local farming.

West of the valley, the terrain rises sharply toward Socorro Peak and Polvadera Mountain, where mining history is evident at the Dewey Lode Mine and various quarries. The cultural and educational footprint of the era is anchored by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, while the eastern side of the river features the more isolated Old Stapleton Ranch and the site of Bowling Green amidst a series of rugged arroyos like Arroyo de la Parida.