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1970 Map of Big Hill

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Big Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The arid ranchlands of Reeves County are defined here by a network of water tanks and windmills essential for livestock in the high desert. Scattered throughout the landscape, family-named landmarks like McIlvain Draw and Johnson Hill provide orientation in the vast terrain south of the Pecos River valley. The dependence on managed water is evident in the prevalence of features like McIlvain Tank, Mare Tank, and Langham Tank, which capture infrequent runoff in an area where permanent surface water is scarce.

Wind power was clearly the lifeblood of this Texas territory at the dawn of the 1970s, as evidenced by specifically named machinery like the High Lonesome Windmill and the Old Ranch Windmill. Industrial activity is marked by a prominent pipeline and scattered drill holes and a gas well, indicating the region's intersection of traditional cattle ranching and energy extraction. The local topography is dominated by Big Hill and the seasonal paths of Cottonwood Creek and China Draw.