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1953 Map of Velarde

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Velarde
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Rio Grande carves a deep valley through Northern New Mexico in the early 1950s, defining a landscape of traditional acequias and riverfront settlements. This survey captures the intricate irrigation network essential to the region, including the Low Ditch, Highway Ditch, and Plaza Ditch that sustain the valley floor. Clusters of community life are centered around Velarde, Dixon, and Embudo, where the Embudo Presbyterian Hospital and Embudo PO serve as local hubs.

Evidence of the area's complex land history is seen in the Sebastian Martin Grant boundary, while the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks parallel the river's path. From the heights of Black Mesa to the drainage of Rio de Truchas, the map details a rural society built on the geography of water and canyon walls. Educational and spiritual sites like the Evangelical Sch, Velarde Sch, and various Dixon Cemeteries provide valuable touchpoints for genealogists tracing family roots in Rio Arriba County.