1961 Map of Buffalo Lake

About this map

Buffalo Lake and its surrounding High Plains terrain dominate this early 1960s survey, illustrating a landscape defined by water management and ranching. The Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge follows the winding course of Tierra Blanca Creek, which cuts a distinct canyon through the flat Panhandle topography. Settlement is concentrated along the Panhandle and Santa Fe railroad line, where the small communities of Umbarger and Dawn serve as local hubs. Genealogists and historians can locate St Mary Cem near Umbarger and the Jowell Sch to the southeast, alongside several named agricultural operations like the Flying Mare Ranch and Happy Hereford Ranch. The map also meticulously records the infrastructure of the era, from the Bismark Road to a network of essential water sources such as the Cottonwood Windmill and Schoolhouse Windmill.