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1955 Map of Fort Bliss SE

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Fort Bliss SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Biggs Air Force Base and the expansive Fort Bliss Military Reservation dominate this mid-century landscape on the edge of El Paso. The map illustrates the city's outward expansion toward the desert, with residential developments like Del Norte Heights and Hacienda Heights appearing in the southwest corner. The transition from urban center to military training grounds is marked by utility infrastructure, including a prominent Telephone line and several Pipeline corridors cutting across the arid terrain.

Water sources are critical landmarks in this environment, represented by isolated points like Mc Elroy Well, Bakers Well, and the evocatively named Hells Hole Well. Local entertainment and industry are documented through the presence of a Drive-in Theater, a Rodeo Arena, and a Stockyard. Natural topography is defined by the winding course of Jesuit Draw and a network of sand pits, reflecting the geological and economic character of the region during this period of growth.