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1894 Map of Brownwood

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Brownwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

Brownwood and Comanche anchor this late-19th-century reconnaissance of Central Texas, a region defined by its reliance on a burgeoning rail network and natural water sources. The Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad cuts a diagonal path across the landscape, linking settlements like Zephyr and Mullen while bypassing older outposts such as Williams Ranch. This shift in transportation is visible in the placement of towns relative to the rugged geography of the Hog Mountains and the Pompey Mountains.

The survey highlights a rural economy tied to the drainage basins of Pecan Bayou and the Leon River. Strategic passes through the limestone ridges, including Logan Gap, Mercers Gap, and Salt Gap, provided vital transit routes for early settlers. Smaller communities like May, Sidney, and Hydesport are shown in their original configurations, offering a detailed view of the frontier’s transition into an established agricultural and rail corridor.