1970 Map of Blue Hills

About this map

The Blue Hills rise above a landscape of deep-cut drainages in this remote section of Val Verde County, mapped at the start of the 1970s. The region is defined by its ranching infrastructure, featuring isolated outposts like Albers Ranch, Quinn Ranch, and Mayfield Ranch. These family-named holdings are supported by a network of unimproved roads, several Landing Strips, and numerous Water Tanks critical for livestock in the arid West Texas climate. The terrain is deeply incised by dry washes and canyons, most notably Duncan Draw to the north and the converging systems of Wallace Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, and Lewis Canyon to the south. Small-scale industrial activity is evidenced by a Gravel Pit and a Drill Hole, suggesting the persistent exploration of the land's subsurface potential alongside traditional pastoral use.