1985 Map of Marfa

About this map

Marfa sits at the eastern edge of a high-desert landscape where the Southern Pacific railroad cuts across the expansive Ryan Flat. This mid-1980s compilation documents the international border along the Rio Grande, showing the riverside settlements of Candelaria and Pueblo Nuevo. The terrain transitions from the open flats into the dramatic elevations of the Sierra Vieja and the Cuesta Del Burro, with Capote Peak serving as a prominent landmark. Numerous arroyos and draws, including Arroyo Sanguijuela and Wild Horse Draw, illustrate the complex drainage patterns that define this part of West Texas. Regional infrastructure is represented by the Municipal Airport and a network of highways like 17 and 67 that connect the isolated ranching communities and small outposts like Aragon to the larger county seat.