1958 Map of Edwards Branch

About this map

Hubbard Creek winds through this central Texas landscape, defining the rural character of the border between Shackelford and Stephens counties in the late 1950s. The terrain is a network of intermittent watercourses including Negro Creek, Mc Dowell Creek, and Black Branch, punctuated by the elevation of Flat Top. While the area remains largely undeveloped, it shows the clear imprint of mid-century industrial utility, with multiple Oil Wells and a Sludge Pit scattered across the plains. A distinct geographical feature known as The Island sits at a bend in the main creek, while the site of Graves indicates local family history or early pioneer burial grounds. The map also documents the infrastructure of the era, tracing a Pipeline and Telephone Line that cut across the open ranch land near Edwards Branch.