1955 Map of La Union

About this map

The Mesilla Valley defines this mid-century landscape along the New Mexico-Texas border, where a complex network of irrigation and drainage ditches supports agricultural settlements. The community of La Union sits at the center of the sheet, surrounded by named laterals such as the Deck Lateral and La Union West Lateral that manage the waters of the Rio Grande floodplain. To the north, the Refugio Colony reflects the area's early land grant history, while the southern portion transitions toward Santa Teresa and the Borderland Road. Educational and spiritual centers are well-documented, including St Lukes Ch, Central Sch, and the Gadsden Jr and Sr High Sch. The western edge of the valley is sharply defined by rising terrain, with a Southern Pacific rail line and a long-distance Telephone line cutting through the arid landscape to the west.