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1966 Map of Ballard Camp

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Ballard Camp
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Middle Pease River carves a winding path across this West Texas landscape, defining the topography of a region dominated by ranching infrastructure in the mid-1960s. The settlement at Ballard Camp serves as a central point in a territory crisscrossed by named windmills and water tanks, which were essential for sustaining livestock in this arid environment. Names like Beauchum Windmill, Wylie Half Windmill, and Stotts Windmill reflect the family and local history of the Motley County area.

Water management is the primary narrative of the map, visible in the numerous tanks such as Little Bear Creek Tank and Black Cow Tank. The presence of the Boxcar Windmill and Big Old Glory Windmill suggests a landscape where every reliable water source was a vital landmark. In the southern portion, the Tee Pee road and a small Roadside Park indicate the early development of local transit routes through the breaks of the Pease River valley.