1961 Map of Star Lake

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-desert landscape in McKinley and Sandoval counties, defining a region where water and energy infrastructure converge. In the early 1960s, the Star Lake Trading Post served as a central hub for the surrounding community, located near a Mission and a localized Landing Strip. The presence of the Star Lake Pumping Station and various Pipelines indicates the area's importance as a mid-century energy corridor. Natural features like Pot Mesa and the escarpment of Ceja Del Raton dominate the topography, interspersed with seasonal water sources such as Franciscan Lake and Mosquito Tank. This survey captures the sparse but critical settlement patterns of the Navajo Nation boundary lands, where cattle tanks and trading posts supported a rural economy long before modern expansion changed the face of the New Mexico interior.