1977 Map of Yates

About this map

Yates anchors the southeastern corner of this High Plains landscape, situated along the county line where Union Co meets Harding County. The terrain is defined by the winding drainage systems of Alamocita Creek and Ute Creek, which cut through the high tablelands of northeastern New Mexico. Notable landmarks such as Cerro de la Cruz rise above the surrounding plains, providing essential orientation points in an area marked by wide-open grazing land and dispersed water sources. The map reveals the critical importance of water in this arid environment, showing several isolated springs and the small catchment of Island Lake. These features, alongside the network of unimproved roads and light-duty paths, illustrate the remote ranching character of the region as it existed in the late 1970s.