1893 Map of Las Cruces

About this map

Las Cruces and the neighboring community of Mesilla serve as the primary hubs of activity in this late 19th-century study of the Mesilla Valley. The landscape is defined by the vital waters of the Rio Grande, which supports a string of agricultural settlements including Dona Ana, San Miguel, and Chamberino. The arrival of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad parallel to the river indicates the shift from old wagon trails to a modern industrial corridor. To the east, the vertical rise of the Organ Mountains and San Augustin Peak hosts mining outposts like Organ City, while the northern reaches are guarded by the remains of Fort Selden. This survey captures the region before extensive modern irrigation changed the valley floor, showing the original placement of rail stops like Earlham and Mesquite along the basin's eastern edge.