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1891 Map of Las Cruces

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Las Cruces
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

Las Cruces and the surrounding Mesilla Valley appear here in the early 1890s, defined by the vital corridor of the Rio Grande and the emergence of transcontinental rail lines. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad cuts through the center of the sheet, connecting established settlements like Dona Ana and Mesilla to the growing hub of Las Cruces. To the east, the steep Organ Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, home to Organ City and high peaks such as San Augustin Peak.

Significant military and transport history is represented by Fort Selden in the north and the Southern Pacific Railroad crossing the southwestern plains near Afton. The river's influence on settlement patterns is clear, with a string of communities including San Miguel, La Mesa, and Chamberino lining the fertile valley floor. This survey, conducted by R. H. Phillips, documents the territory's transition into a modern railroad-era landscape while many traditional Adobe-style villages remained the primary centers of population.