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1894 Map of Fort Hancock

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Fort Hancock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1894
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1894

About this map

The Rio Grande defines the southwestern boundary of this West Texas territory, where military outposts and desert mountain ranges shaped the landscape during the late nineteenth century. The map highlights the strategic positioning of Fort Hancock Post and Fort Hancock Station alongside the tracks of the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. This rail line served as a vital corridor through the arid basin, connecting remote desert stops like Madden, Finlay, and Malone.

Evidence of shifting frontier priorities is visible in the identification of decommissioned sites, specifically Camp Rice (Ab'd.) and Fort Quitman (Ab'd.) near the riverbanks. To the east, the topography rises sharply into the Finlay Mountains, Malone Mountains, and Quitman Mountains, creating a stark contrast to the floodplains of the river valley. The survey provides a clear look at early railroad-led development in El Paso County before later administrative boundary changes.