1978 Map of Tapia Ranch

About this map

Argonne Mesa dominates the central landscape of this Guadalupe County survey, rising sharply above the surrounding high plains. The arid terrain is defined by deep incisions like Collins Canyon and the winding course of the Pintada Arroyo to the north. Evidence of livestock ranching is central to the area's identity, anchored by the Tapia Ranch near the base of the mesa and the intricate topography of Rincon de Rosendo. Transportation across this expansive territory is represented by the Southern Pacific tracks cutting across the southern portion of the quadrangle. This map documents a quiet, traditional ranching landscape in the late 1970s, where seasonal drainages and named canyons serve as the primary landmarks for local navigation and land boundaries.