1964 Map of Spalding

About this map

The Butterfield Trail cuts diagonally across this high desert landscape, tracing the historic path of nineteenth-century stagecoaches through Luna County. This 1960s survey documents a region defined by its vital water sources and transportation corridors, where the Mimbres River and San Vicente Arroyo provide the primary relief in an arid environment. The settlement at Spalding sits along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line, which parallels the river valley. Numerous livestock improvements are scattered throughout the quadrangle, including the Gerrell Windmill, East Windmill, and several numbered stations like Windmill No 6. The transition from old trails to modern infrastructure is evident as U.S. Route 180 follows a similar path as the historic stage route, while the presence of a Landing Strip and Radio Tower marks the mid-century development of the area.