1973 Map of Langtry

About this map

The border community of Langtry sits above a sharp bend in the Rio Grande, appearing here just a few years after the rising waters of the Amistad Reservoir Rio Grande transformed the canyon floor into a complex shoreline. This arid landscape is defined by deep incisions like Eagle Creek Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon, which drain toward the international boundary. Historically significant transportation corridors are evident in the Old Southern Pacific Railroad Grade, marking the original route through this difficult terrain before modern realignments. Local genealogy and land use are anchored by sites such as the Babb Cem and the Billings Ranch, while the natural limestone geology is highlighted by Emerald Cave and Big Tree Cave north of the settlement. The map documents a moment when federal land management was cementing with the establishment of the Amistad National Recreation Area along the reservoir's edge.