1985 Map of Tornillo

About this map

The Rio Grande serves as the focal point for this mid-1980s borderland study, defining the international boundary between El Paso County, Texas, and Mexico. The landscape is dominated by the agricultural and transit corridor northwest of the river, where the Southern Pacific railroad and Texas Road parallel the water. Settlements like Fabens, Tornillo, and Alamo Alto are tightly clustered near this vital infrastructure. A complex network of irrigation, including the Tornillo Canal, Alamo Canal, and Caseta Canal, illustrates the intensive water management required to support life and farming in this arid valley. Across the border, the map details the town of Guadalupe D. B. and the rugged peaks of the Sierra Del Presidio, providing a rare look at the cross-border terrain before modern development shifted the region's character.