1949 Map of Whitewater

About this map

Whitewater serves as a focal point in this high-desert landscape of southwestern New Mexico, situated near the intersection of rail lines and the White Signal Road. The map documents a period of transition for local infrastructure, clearly marking a segment of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad as abandoned, while the primary Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe route continues to navigate the drainage patterns of San Vicente Arroyo. The terrain is defined by dry watercourses including Oak Grove Creek, Cherry Creek, and Cameron Creek, which converge through the arid flats. To the south, the prominent ridge of Hogback Mountain and the Hogback terrain rise above the surrounding landscape, providing a distinct geographic anchor. Numerous windmills and scattered levees suggest the importance of water management for cattle ranching near the Grant Co Luna Co boundary during the late 1940s.