1979 Map of Black Hills

About this map

Moon Ranch and Maupin Ranch anchor this landscape in the Trans-Pecos region of Hudspeth County, reflecting the sparse, cattle-driven settlement patterns of West Texas in the late 1970s. The terrain is defined by the Black Hills, where water management is the primary human imprint on the land. A sophisticated network of catchment systems, including Horseshoe Tank, McGunnegle Tank, and Dishpan Tank, illustrates the essential infrastructure required for ranching in this arid environment. Beyond these isolated homesteads and livestock tanks, the map shows a quiet landscape of drainage features like Count Draw and localized industry at the Gravel Pit. This survey provides a precise look at the fencing, windmills, and tracks that supported remote ranching life before modern developments altered the high desert floor.