1996 Map of Strauss

About this map

The Mesilla Valley serves as a stark transition point in this borderland landscape, where the irrigated agriculture of the Rio Grande basin meets the arid desert of southern New Mexico. Near the international boundary with Chihuahua, the map documents a mix of infrastructure and remote outposts, including the settlement of Strauss and the Dona Ana County at Santa Teresa Airport. Residential and institutional growth is evident at the Santa Teresa Jr High Sch and nearby Golf Course, contrasted by the more industrial presence of a Sewage Disposal site and a large Feedlot. Local history is captured in the remnants of transportation networks, specifically the Old Railroad Grade that cuts across the terrain toward the southeastern corner near Lizard. These features, alongside landmarks like Mastadon, reflect the complex land use at the intersection of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.