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1959 Map of Castle Peak

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Castle Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Oneal Cem sits near the heart of this Central Texas landscape, marking the local history of families who settled along the creek drainages at the boundary of Mills and Lampasas Counties. The terrain is defined by its dramatic relief, where North Simms Creek and its tributaries carve through the limestone hills. Prominent elevations like Castle Peak and Payne Mountain overlook a network of seasonal watercourses and sheltered areas such as Snipes Cove and Horsethief Cove.

Evidence of early movement through these hills is seen at Waggoner Gap and Chalk Gap, natural passes that dictated the placement of unimproved roads and cattle routes. The map records a rural environment focused on livestock and small-scale ranching, with water sources like Henley Spring serving as vital hubs in an otherwise dry upland. The drainage patterns of North Turkey Creek and South Turkey Creek reveal how the land was naturally partitioned before modern development reached this part of the Edwards Plateau.