2010 Map of Isla

About this map

The international boundary between Texas and Chihuahua follows the winding course of the Rio Grande through this river-valley landscape. Settlement patterns on the American side are defined by a dense network of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, including the Guadalupe Lateral and the Border Drain, which supported the agricultural development of the region near Fabens. Smaller communities like Isla and Elizario are connected by a series of family-named and descriptive routes, such as Jess Harris Rd and Island Rd. The topography is relatively flat, emphasizing the significance of the river crossing at Guadalupe Bridge and the Tornillo Spur rail line. This survey captures a moment of modern land management in the El Paso Valley, where the grid of local roads like Wilson Rd and R C Elam Rd meet the natural curve of the historic river channel.