1955 Map of North Franklin Mountain

About this map

The dramatic vertical rise of North Franklin Mountain and Anthonys Nose dominates this mid-century survey, illustrating the sharp boundary between the desert heights and the expanding urban footprint of El Paso. Much of the rugged western terrain is occupied by the Fort Bliss Military Reservation, including the Castner Range and significant tactical features like Smugglers Pass and Mundys Gap. The map captures a transitional era for the city, with purple photorevisions from the early 1970s showing rapid residential growth pushing toward the mountains. Essential water sources in this arid environment, such as Mundys Spring and Indian Spring, are meticulously noted alongside man-made infrastructure like the Southern Pacific railroad and the Hitt Ranch to the north. This document provides a clear look at how military and municipal borders converged during Texas's post-war expansion.