1985 Map of Presidio

About this map

The Rio Grande forms a sweeping international boundary through this mid-1980s survey of the Big Bend region, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad terminates at the border town of Presidio. This landscape is defined by its isolation and the complex drainage of the Chinati Mountains, with numerous arroyos like Arroyo Chillan and Arroyo Cibolo cutting toward the river. Historically, the area was anchored by silver mining near Shafter, where the Sullivan Mine and Last Chance Mine are located, and by the frontier protection of the Fort Leaton State Historic Site. Small river settlements including Adobes, Ochoa, and Ruidosa appear along the river road, while the presence of the Presidio Lely International Airport highlights the region's importance as a gateway between Texas and Chihuahua.