1985 Map of Crystal City

About this map

Crystal City and the surrounding South Texas Brush Country are defined by the convergence of the Nueces and Frio River basins during the mid-1980s. This survey illustrates the region's transition from the agricultural focus of the "Winter Garden" district at Winter Haven toward an economy increasingly reliant on energy and transport. The Missouri Pacific RR serves as a critical north-south artery through towns like Dilley and Pearsall, while the Big Wells Oil Field marks the industrial activity in northeastern Dimmit County. Historical hydrology is prominent here, notably the oxbows of Espantosa Lake and the various reservoirs like Boynton Res and Holcomb Reservoir that supported irrigation in this semi-arid landscape. From the county seat of Carrizo Springs to the smaller settlements of Brundage and Gardendale, the map preserves a network of rural school sites and landing strips that supported remote ranching operations.