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1955 Map of Canutillo

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Canutillo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Rio Grande carves a fertile path through the Mesilla Valley on this mid-century survey, defining the stark boundary between the river bottomlands and the rising desert of the Franklin Mountains. Agricultural life in this arid corridor is shaped by an intricate network of irrigation and runoff management, including the Anthony Drain, Vinton Drain, and Bosque Drain. These features support the linear settlements that follow the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe rail line, such as Anthony, Vinton, and Canutillo.

The border between New Mexico and Texas cuts directly through the northern portion of the map, splitting the community of Anthony and placing the Federal Correctional Institution at La Tuna just inside the Texas line. The map illustrates the transition from the river-fed valley to the high ridges of Hitt Canyon and Avisra Canyon, documenting a landscape where transportation corridors and water engineering dictate the placement of local landmarks like the Mt Zion Ch and the small siding at Borderland.