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1956 Map of Islitas

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Islitas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Rio Grande corridor north of Laredo serves as the focal point for this military-derived tactical survey, highlighting a landscape defined by ranching and industrial extraction in the early twentieth century. Extensive ranching operations like Tordillo Settlement, San Isabel Ranch, and Los Jaboncillos Ranch dot the scrubland, while the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad provides the critical link between the riverside settlements and the coal-rich bluffs.

Evidence of the region's energy economy is found at Dolores and Santo Tomas, where a Mine Dump (Abandoned) and numerous specialized irrigation stations like the Dolores Pump reflect a managed riverfront. Near the southern terminus, the industrial footprint of Laredo is evident through the Border Oil Co Refinery and City Waterworks, all under the watchful presence of Fort McIntosh. This map captures the strategic importance of the border prior to World War II, marking both legitimate transit points like Indian Ford and the logistical challenges of the Difficult Crossing.