1918 Map of Dryden Crossing

About this map

The Rio Grande carves the southern boundary of this remote Terrell County landscape, where the international border separates Texas from Mexico. Surveyed in 1917, the map illustrates a rugged ranching economy defined by isolated outposts such as Coffin Ranch, Miller Ranch, and McClain Ranch. Transportation in this era relied on critical river passages like Shafer Crossing and the Cable Crossing Road, connecting the inland plateaus to the river valley. The terrain is deeply dissected by a network of drainage systems, including Sanderson Canyon and Seminole Canyon, which channel toward the border. In an arid environment, life clustered around reliable water sources like the Blue Water Hole and Middle Watering, which served as vital landmarks for travelers and stockmen navigating between the Cable Hills and the Shafter Hills.