1940 Map of Monte Christo

About this map

Large cattle ranches and early irrigation efforts define this survey of the Rio Grande Valley, where family-named holdings like Javaline Ranch and Capatosa Ranch span the divide between Starr and Hidalgo counties. The transition from ranching to intensive agriculture is evident in the southeast, where a grid of canal-lined roads, such as Mile 10 Road and 3 Mile Road, feeds off the Reno Canal and Bryan Canal. This network supports the emerging community of Palmhurst and the Experimental Farm, signaling the region's mid-century shift toward commercial citrus and vegetable farming.