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1952 Map of White Rock

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of White Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The settlement of White Rock and the surrounding canyonlands appear in this survey conducted shortly after the establishment of the neighboring laboratory complex. The landscape is defined by deep incisions through the volcanic plateaus, most notably White Rock Canyon carved by the Rio Grande. This section of the river serves as a prominent boundary, separating the Ramon Vigil Grant on the west from the Caja del Rio Grant on the east.

Evidence of early regional infrastructure is found in the Old Railroad Grade and a Pipe Line that traverse the mesas near Totavi. The map details cultural and administrative divisions, including the southern reaches of the San Ildefonso Indian Reservation, the Santa Fe National Forest, and a designated Sacred Area. Numerous drainage features like Water Canyon and Ancho Canyon feed into the Rio Grande, while decommissioned sites like the Pueblito Tank hint at shifting water management needs in this arid environment.