1963 Map of Thoreau NE

About this map

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks run across the southern reaches of this McKinley County landscape, marking the primary transportation artery for the region in the early 1960s. The terrain is defined by the carved drainage systems of Casamero Draw and Mitchell Draw, which influence the placement of local homesteads such as Andrews Ranch and Elkins Ranch. Uranium mining activity is evident in the northeastern sector, specifically at the Moe Mine, alongside other scattered mines that highlight the industrial character of the era. The mapping also captures the complex topography of Rincon Canyon and the surrounding mesas, illustrating the relationship between the arid environment and the cattle ranching and mineral extraction industries that sustained these high-desert communities.