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1960 Map of Teel Ranch

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Teel Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Rio Peñasco and the Rio Felix anchor this corner of southeast New Mexico, where water management is critical to the survival of high-plains ranching operations. The map documents an extensive network of family-owned holdings including the Teel Ranch, Hunter Ranch, and Joe Young Ranch, illustrating the sparse but vital settlement pattern of the Chaves and Eddy county borderlands. A distinct water infrastructure is visible through numerous wells and tanks such as Sixteen Tank and Dagger Tank, alongside the Hope West Dam and Hope Retard Dam which control seasonal flow along the western edge of the Hope Community.

Sagebrush Valley and Indian Bluff dominate the northern terrain, carved by complex drainage systems like Eagle Draw and Sixteenmile Draw. The presence of the Schauer Landing Strip near the Rio Peñasco suggests the importance of aerial access for these remote livestock operations. This era of land use is characterized by a reliance on earthen dams and deep-water sources to sustain agriculture in a landscape defined by its draws and canyons.