1965 Map of El Paso

About this map

El Paso serves as the focal point of this regional study, where the Rio Grande creates a narrow corridor of settlement and irrigation along the border. The agricultural network of the Franklin Canal and Riverside Canal supports communities like San Elizario and Socorro, while the massive Fort Bliss Military Reservation and Biggs Air Force Base dominate the highlands north of El Paso International. To the west, the arid Chihuahuan Desert landscape is marked by volcanic features like Kilbourne Hole and the West Potrillo Mountains. The infrastructure of the Southern Pacific railroad links remote outposts such as Columbus and Hermanas to the urban center. Family-named landmarks, including the Johnson Ranch and Hitt Ranch, are scattered across the expansive desert terrain, often centered on water sources like Hueco Wells or Martin Tank.