1920 Map of Columbus

About this map

Columbus serves as the focal point of this borderland survey, situated just north of the Boundary Gate where the United States meets Chihuahua. The town is a critical hub for the El Paso and Southwestern railroad, which cuts across the arid southern landscape. The placement of Sunnyside School and Mayfield School suggests a dispersed but established community of homesteaders and ranchers, including the Stephenson Ranch and Rascon Ranch. To the north, the isolated settlement of Waterloo and the prominent Palomas Arroyo define the desert terrain. The infrastructure of the era is evidenced by the Deming Road and essential water sources like Deans Well and Stiles Reservoir near Loma Vista, highlighting the necessity of managed water for survival in this high-desert environment during the early twentieth century.