1972 Map of Tub Spring

About this map

The Dry Cimarron River winds across the high plains of the Colorado and New Mexico border, defining a landscape of deep drainages and isolated water sources. This 1972 field-checked survey of Union County captures the remote ranching character of the region, where survival is tied to specifically named points like Tub Spring and several remote pumping stations. The terrain is deeply incised by a network of steep-walled features, including Flathead Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Anderson Canyon, which channel seasonal runoff toward the primary riverbed. Human presence is sparse and focused on resource extraction and livestock management, evidenced by Gravel Pits and isolated developments such as the North Young Pocket Well and South Young Pocket Well. A single Jeep Trail provides passage through the broken country near Sloan Canyon, illustrating the era's limited infrastructure in this borderland territory.