1943 Map of McNary

About this map

The Rio Grande defines the international boundary and the agricultural landscape of this corner of west Texas during the early 1940s. Centered on the settlement of McNary, the map reveals an intricate network of irrigation infrastructure essential for desert farming, including the Hudspeth Main Canal, the Diablo Canal, and the Algodon Canal. These man-made waterways contrast with the natural ephemeral drainages of Madden Arroyo and Diablo Arroyo that cut toward the river valley. The corridor is a vital transportation artery, where the Southern Pacific and Texas And Pacific rail lines parallel the river, supporting local agricultural hubs like Camp 9 and the Hudspeth Farm Camp. This survey captures the intensive land use in the river bottomlands just before the era of major mid-century agricultural shifts.