1955 Map of Canutillo

About this map

The Rio Grande creates a sharp geographical and political divide across the Mesilla Valley, defining the boundary between New Mexico and Texas. This mid-century landscape is shaped by a complex irrigation network, including the Westside Canal, Anthony Drain, and Canutillo Lateral, which support the agricultural lands west of the Franklin Mountains. Highlighting the era's institutional and transit infrastructure, the map shows the Federal Correctional Institution near La Tuna and the prominent route of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad through the valley floor. Small communities like Anthony, Nuway, and Canutillo are connected by local landmarks such as the Borderland Bridge and Mt Zion Ch. The stark contrast between the intricate drainage canals of the river plain and the steep, undeveloped slopes of Vinton Canyon illustrates the limits of mid-century desert settlement.