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1961 Map of Anderson Ranch

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Anderson Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Pecos River carves a meandering path through this West Texas landscape, defining the boundary between Reeves and Loving counties. During the early 1960s, the region was characterized by the intensive extraction of the Dixieland Oil Field, where numerous Oil Wells and a network of Drill Holes mark the arid terrain. The settlement at Arno serves as a focal point along the Panhandle and Santa Fe railroad, which cuts a straight diagonal line across the quadrangle, facilitating the movement of freight through this petroleum-rich corridor.

Industrial activity is balanced by ranching legacies, such as the Anderson Ranch located near the head of Horsehead Draw. The presence of several Quarries, a Gravel Pit, and water features like Smith Tank highlights the practical requirements of survival and industry in a desert environment. This survey captures a specific moment when the traditional ranching culture intersected with the expanding infrastructure of the mid-century Texas oil boom.