1965 Map of Collins Creek

About this map

Matthews Ranch sits at the heart of this mid-1960s landscape, illustrating the enduring ranching tradition along the Throckmorton and Shackelford County line. The terrain is deeply carved by a network of waterways, including Collins Creek, Lambshead Creek, and Walnut Creek, which dictate the local topography and land use. This survey captures a moment when the petroleum industry was actively integrated into the rural economy, evidenced by numerous Oil Well and Gas Well sites scattered across the hillsides. A private Landing Strip and various improved and unimproved roads provide the only modern connectivity through this remote stretch of Texas, where the economy was a blend of cattle, oil, and small-scale resource extraction like the Gravel Pit near the creek beds. The drainage patterns of Mill Creek and Reynolds Branch further define the intricate system of draws and ridges that characterize this part of the Rolling Plains.