1963 Map of Thoreau NE

About this map

Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks cut across the southern edge of this high-desert landscape, following the lower terrain through a series of significant drainage basins. The map captures the area as it was surveyed in the late 1950s and updated into the early 1980s, revealing a landscape defined by sharp mesas and deep draws. Local activity is concentrated near the rail line and along Casamero Draw and Mitchell Draw, where the Andrews Ranch and several Mines suggest a history of livestock ranching and resource extraction. The northeast portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the steep walls of Rincon Canyon, illustrating the transition from flat valley floors to the elevated plateau country of northwestern New Mexico.