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1971 Map of Big Spring North

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Big Spring North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Industrial development and agricultural settlement define the landscape in this Howard County quadrangle, where the Texas and Pacific railroad corridor serves as the primary axis for growth. In the southwest, Big Spring emerges as a regional hub, featuring a concentrated urban footprint with specialized facilities like the State Hospital, an Experiment Farm, and a prominent Radio Tower. To the east, the small communities of Coahoma and Sand Springs highlight the rail-dependent economy, while a nearby Refinery and Tank Farm indicate the area's emerging petroleum and processing infrastructure.

Beyond the tracks, the terrain gives way to a network of rural school districts and gathering places that once sustained a more dispersed population. Named rural schools including Richland Sch, Gayhill Sch, and Morgan Sch are scattered across the landscape near landmarks like Planters Gin and Lauderdale Store. The topography is marked by significant drainages such as Wildhorse Creek and Morgan Creek, which cut through the plains toward isolated heights like Flattop Mtn.