Settlement, Growth, and Water Security for Southwest Cities - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 444

center where gunslingers and rustlers had their way about town. This fertile valley was
the home of pastures, farms, and vineyards along the Rio Grande River.
During the period from 1852 to 1868, the Rio Grande River experienced severe and vio-
lent floods that shifted the course of the river to the south. This diversion of the river
added several hundred acres of land to the United States due south of the urban center
of El Paso, now considered valuable developable land. Mexico made repeated claims to
the Chamizal lands in dispute, citing that previous treaties with the United States define
the center of the Rio Grande River as the international boundary at the time of the treaty.
Both countries agreed to arbitration in 1910 that resulted in a proposal to return the lands
to the historic boundaries and transfer of lands back to Mexico. The United States refused
to accept this settlement and continued to ignore Mexico's pleas to settle the dispute. The
issue was finally resolved when John Kennedy agreed to settle the dispute in accord with
the 1911 arbitration proposal and was eventually signed by President Johnson in 1967. Both
countries shared the cost of channelization of the Rio Grande and the exchange of the
lands to Mexico. 2 The Chamizal Dispute is an important milestone in southwestern history
in urbanized settings where the issue of land was an emotional, valuable and an object
of national pride, more on the part of the Mexican perspective, but smoothed the path of
diplomatic relations with Mexico who was still angry about the U.S. land grab of northern
Mexico territories after the Mexican-American War.
26.4.2 Albuquerque
In 1540, the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado traveled through the New
Mexico region in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola. After spending the winter camped
along the Rio Grande River, Coronado proceeded north to establish the town of Santa Fe
in 1610. The Spanish sought to control the Pueblo Indians and found a strong rebellion
ensued by the 1580s and drove the Spanish to the south for over 10 years until it was recap-
tured. The villa of Albuquerque, named after the Duke of Spain, was founded in 1706 and
was the next major westward stop along the Camino Real from El Paso del Norte. By 1880,
the railroad had entered the territory, and, in 1885, the town of Albuquerque was founded.
In 1889, the University of New Mexico opened its doors as the new higher-education center
of the region. The town remained part of the New Mexico territory until 1912 when New
Mexico became the 47th State in the Union.
26.4.3 Las Vegas
The dusty town of Las Vegas was named after the Spanish term that means “the mead-
ows.” The site was one of the few artesian springs that emerged from the parched land-
scape. The Mormon Church had grand plans for building a string of settlements from Salt
Lake City to the Pacific Ocean. In 1855, a fort was constructed by the Mormons to build
farming and mining communities, but was left abandoned by 1857. Las Vegas had been
part of territorial New Mexico when the Mormons built their fort in 1855, but the western
segment of the territory became part of Arizona in 1863. When the new state of Nevada
was created, Las Vegas was part of Mojave County, Arizona. 3
Las Vegas had a bad reputation from some illicit activities, such as whiskey running,
prostitution, and cattle rustling. The region was promoted and profited by the flamboyant
and controversial Senator William Clark, a developer who had a questionable reputation.
The city was founded in 1905 after a land auction of 110 ac creating the Las Vegas town
site and was governed as part of Lincoln County until 1909 when it served as the seat of