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1982 Map of Tularosa NE

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Tularosa NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The eastern reaches of the White Sands Missile Range dominate the western half of this landscape, where the flat basin floor meets the rising desert foothills. Across this arid expanse, water remains the primary driver of development and naming, with numerous family-named landmarks and water sources scattered throughout the terrain. Ranching history is evident at Stover Ranch, supported by a network of vital springs and wells such as Chosa Spring, Cowen Spring, and the Crosby Windmill.

Infrastructure is defined by the long, straight transit corridor of the Southern Pacific railroad, which cuts through the center of the sheet. The drainage patterns of Temporal Creek and Bitter Creek shape the eastern topography as they flow toward the basin, while to the south, Coyote Canyon provides a distinct break in the desert floor. The map records a functional landscape of isolated Landing Strips, tanks, and wells, illustrating the sparse but deliberate human footprint in Otero County during the early 1980s.