1954 Map of Brownfield

About this map

Muleshoe NWR and the sprawling Oil and Gas Field define this high plains landscape across the Texas-New Mexico border. The mid-century development of the Permian Basin's northern reaches is evident in the dense network of roads and pipelines connecting towns like Sundown, Levelland, and the regional hub of Brownfield. Outside of the industrialized energy zones, the terrain is characterized by alkaline basins and intermittent water bodies such as Bull Lake, Yellow Lake, and Mound Lake. The importance of water and transport in this semi-arid region is highlighted by the course of Yellow House Draw and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR corridors. Along the western edge, the distinct transition from the plains to the desert is marked by the Mescalero Ridge and the sandy expanses of Mescalero Sands. Small communities like Friendship, Pep, and Tokio serve as remote anchors in a landscape dominated by ranching and resource extraction.