1944 Map of Flat Rock

About this map

The Sycamore Creek drainage system dominates this West Texas landscape, where the West Fork Sycamore Creek and East Sycamore Creek carve through the high terrain of the Edwards Plateau. This 1944 survey, prepared by the Corps of Engineers using 1941 aerial photography, captures a ranching economy defined by isolated outposts and livestock wells. The map reveals the intricate borderlands where Val Verde, Edwards, and Kinney counties meet, marked by significant family holdings such as the North Ranch, Hayes Ranch, and Newman Ranch. These large properties relied on scattered water sources like Thurman Well to sustain operations across the arid precincts. Navigational landmarks like Standart Lane provide a glimpse into the limited road network that connected these remote ranching headquarters during the mid-20th century, offering a detailed record for genealogists and regional historians tracking family names like Waldrop or Sellars.