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1918 Map of Dove Mountain

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Dove Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Isolated ranching outposts and high desert topography characterize this Brewster County landscape during the first World War. Surveyed in 1917, the terrain is defined by dramatic elevations such as Pine Mountain and the prominent Dove Mountain in the south. Settlement is sparse, represented by family-named landmarks like Gage Ranch and Jones Ranch, which were critical hubs for livestock and water management in an arid environment.

Strategic water sources are meticulously documented, including numerous artificial catchments like Stevenson Tank, Crenshaw Tank, and Bowden Tanks. The network of travel is limited to rugged tracks like the Sanderson Road, which navigates between the Black Hills and the winding course of San Francisco Creek. These features illustrate the early 20th-century ranching economy, where survival depended on controlling water rights and maintaining connectivity across the Big Bend region's challenging geography.