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1983 Map of El Paso

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of El Paso
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Rio Grande serves as the focal point for this international border region, bisecting the urban sprawl of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. In the early 1980s, the landscape was defined by the sharp transition from the residential and commercial centers to the surrounding desert and mountain ranges. The Franklin Mountains rise abruptly from the city center, while the eastern portion of the sheet is dominated by the sprawling Fort Bliss Military Reservation and industrial infrastructure like Biggs Army Airfield and the Aeropuerto Internacional.

Agricultural patterns are clearly visible within the Mesilla Valley and along the river's path, sustained by an intricate network of canals including the Franklin Canal and Mesa Canal. Beyond the urban core, unique geological features such as Kilbourne Hole and Hunts Hole mark the western desert, while established settlements like Anthony, Canutillo, and Fabens line the river corridor. The presence of the Southern Pacific railroad and the La Tuna Federal Corr Institution further illustrate the mix of transit, agriculture, and government infrastructure that shaped this tri-state area.