1954 Map of Tularosa

About this map

Elephant Butte Reservoir and Caballo Reservoir dominate the central corridor of this survey, where the Rio Grande flows through the high desert of Sierra and Socorro counties. The map reflects a mid-century landscape where early mining settlements like Chloride and Winston in the Black Range persist alongside modern military installations. Large swaths of the eastern terrain are occupied by the Alamogordo Bombing Range and White Sands Proving Ground, illustrating the region's importance to national defense and aerospace testing during the Cold War. In contrast to these restricted zones, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and Cibola National Forest preserve the natural environment. Notable for local history is the identified San Marcial (site), once a significant town along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, and the transition of Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences.