1917 Map of Columbus

About this map

Columbus serves as the focal point of this 1917 survey, sitting at the junction of the El Paso and Southwestern railroad and the Deming Road just north of the United States Mexico border. The landscape is dominated by the prominent peaks of the Tres Hermanas Mountains to the west, while the surrounding desert plains are dotted with isolated outposts like Waterloo and Loma Vista. This survey, conducted in cooperation with the War Department, provides a clear view of the international frontier during a period of heightened military significance. Local education and ranching life are anchored by the Mayfield School, Sunnyside School, and family operations such as Stephenson Ranch. Water sources, critical in this arid environment, are meticulously noted, including Niggerhead Spring, Stiles Reservoir, and Deans Well, alongside the seasonal Palomas Arroyo.