1896 Map of Rio Grande

About this map

Rio Grande waters define the international boundary in this region, where the river's meandering course separates Texas from Mexico. The landscape is dominated by the strategic corridor of the Southern Pacific R. R. which runs parallel to the river, linking the agricultural settlements of the valley. This 1890s survey, later updated with Reclamation Service data, shows early railroad towns such as Fabens, Tornillo, and Rio Grande during their developmental years. The map preserves the specific benchmarks of the era, including BM 3607 and BM 3570, documenting the exact elevations used for irrigation and rail engineering along the borderlands. The interplay of the river's natural curves and the rigid linear path of the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Division reflects the late 19th-century effort to tame and settle the arid frontier.