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1959 Map of Marfa

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Marfa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

High desert elevations and the serpentine course of the Rio Grande define this Trans-Pecos landscape during the late 1950s and mid-1970s. The Southern Pacific railroad serves as the primary corridor for commerce and travel, connecting the small desert community of Valentine with the ranching hub of Marfa. High above the plains, the Davis Mountains dominate the eastern view, featuring peaks like Mount Livermore and the scientific outpost at McDonald Observatory on Mount Locke.

Along the international border with Mexico, isolated settlements and recreation sites like Candelaria, Ruidosa, and the Indian Hot Springs Resort offer a look at life in the river valley. The map documents a complex network of ranch roads and windmills stretching across the Lobo Valley and into the breaks of the Sierra Vieja, illustrating the remote nature of Presidio and Jeff Davis counties during this era.