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1936 Map of Cliffside

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Cliffside
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

The Canadian River cuts a deep path through this Panhandle landscape, where the ranching economy of the mid-1930s is mapped in detail. Numerous family-named holdings like the JY Ranch and XL Ranch dominate the northern terrain, while the Fort Worth and Denver City railroad line connects the industrial outposts of Gentry and Cliffside in the south. The presence of the Canadian River Store and several isolated schools, including River Road Sch and Pleasant Valley Sch, reveals the sparse but organized settlement patterns of Potter County during this era.

Industrial activity is anchored by Bishops Quarry and the Amarillo Sewage Disposal Plant, indicating the infrastructure supporting nearby growth. Along the river, drainage systems like Rosita Creek and Bonita Creek carve through the breaks, framing the prominent Indian Fort Mesa. The map captures a transition where traditional open-range ranching met the emerging rail-and-road network, including the Tascosa Road and State Highway No 5.