1917 Map of Buck Hill

About this map

Mitchell Mesa and Elephant Mtn dominate the high-desert horizon in this 1917 survey of Brewster County. The landscape is defined by the vital, if intermittent, drainage networks of Calamity Creek and Terlingua Creek, which provided the essential water needed for the region's ranching economy. The map documents a sparse but established network of cattle operations, from the Kokernot Ranch in the north to Wilsons Ranch and the O 2 Ranch in the west. Human presence is further evidenced by isolated structures like Plank House and essential water infrastructure such as Brush Windmill and Cobas Windmill. This survey also records a moment of local transition, labeling the Loy Place (Abandoned) while identifying other active residences like Sid Place. These details offer a precise look at West Texas survival and land use before mid-century modernizations reached this corner of the Big Bend country.