1965 Map of Windmill Draw

About this map

Sumner Lake State Park and the high desert rangelands of De Baca County define this landscape during the mid-1960s. The Pecos River carves a winding path through the center of the sheet, bordered by distinctive landmarks like Pacheco Bluff and the dry reaches of Windmill Draw. This arid territory is marked by the infrastructure of ranching life, featuring several established family operations such as York Ranch, Walton Ranch, and Brassell Ranch. Water management is the primary industrial focus, evidenced by the Fort Sumner Diversion Dam and an extensive network of named water sources like Carretas Springs and Old Water Hole. Numerous windmills, including the Shipping Trap Windmill and Star Windmill, illustrate the methods used to sustain livestock across these vast New Mexico grazing lands.