1954 Map of Van Horn

About this map

The Rio Grande serves as the international boundary in the southwest corner of this mid-century Trans-Pecos landscape, where the high desert meets a succession of dramatic mountain blocks. The town of Van Horn stands at a strategic crossroads where major highways and the Texas and Pacific railroad converge. To the west, Sierra Blanca marks another vital junction for the Southern Pacific line. The terrain is defined by isolated ranges including the Guadalupe Mountains and the Sierra Diablo, which rise above the alkali flats near Salt Flat. Small, railroad-dependent settlements and sidings like Arispe, Laska Siding, and Etholen Siding dot the southern corridor, while Dell City represents a pocket of agricultural activity in the northern Salt basin. This survey documents the complex transportation network necessary to navigate the vast distances between the Hueco Mountains and the Davis Mountains.