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1981 Map of Tularosa

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Tularosa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The San Andres Mountains dominate this 1981 landscape, a region defined by high-altitude ridges and deep drainage systems like Rhodes Canyon and Sulphur Canyon. To the east, the vast Tularosa Valley reveals a stark contrast, where the shifting White Sands and extensive Sand Dunes meet the wide Alkali Flat. This area represents a critical intersection of military operations and southwestern transportation, showing the sprawling footprint of the White Sands Missile Range alongside the historic Southern Pacific railroad corridor.

Water sources are scarce but significant in this arid environment, marked by sites such as Alkali Spring, Cottonwood Spring, and the seasonally flooded Big Salt Lake. Settlements are concentrated along the valley edge, with Tularosa and Three Rivers serving as primary anchors. The map also delineates the western boundary of Holloman Air Force Base and several remote Jeep Trails, providing a clear view of how land use was partitioned between defense, transit, and ranching at the start of the 1980s.