1985 Map of Tornillo

About this map

San Elizario Island defines the agricultural and international character of this section of the El Paso Valley during the mid-1980s. The landscape is dominated by a complex network of irrigation infrastructure, including the San Elizario Island Canal, Tornillo Canal, and Island Canal, which draw from the Rio Grande to support the local farming economy. This planimetric survey illustrates how the international boundary between the United States and Mexico follows the river's course, bordering the settlements of Fabens, Tornillo, and Alamo Alto. Transportation through this borderland is anchored by two major rail lines, the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific, which run parallel to the valley's primary transit corridors. The presence of multiple Gaging Stations along the water routes underscores the critical management of the river in this arid environment.