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1985 Map of Sierra Blanca

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Sierra Blanca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

The Rio Grande serves as a stark international boundary on this mid-1980s landscape, separating the United States of America from Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The map documents a rugged West Texas corridor where the Southern Pacific Railroad and regional highways parallel the river's course, connecting border settlements like Fort Hancock, Mc Nary, and Esperanza. This transportation spine is hemmed in by massive geological features, most notably the Quitman Mountains and the distinct volcanic peak of Sierra Blanca.

Further east, the settlement of Allamoore and the Bonanza Mine suggest the region's industrial and mineral history. The arid terrain is defined by a network of ephemeral drainage systems like Red Light Draw and Blanca Draw, which cut through the Streeruwitz Hills and Malone Mountains. This survey captures the region just as modern infrastructure, such as the Mile High Community Airport, began to dot the traditional ranching and rail landscape of Hudspeth County.