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1897 Map of Fort Davis

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Fort Davis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1911
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1911

About this map

The town of Fort Davis serves as the primary anchor in this high-desert landscape of West Texas, surveyed just before the turn of the century. The map reveals a land defined by sprawling cattle operations, tracing the locations of numerous family-named landmarks such as Mc Cutchin's Ranch, Wards Ranch, and Pruett's Ranch. These properties are strategically positioned near vital water sources like Seven Springs and Phantom Lake, illustrating the necessity of reliable springs in the arid Trans-Pecos region.

Terrain features are meticulously charted, from the heights of Major Pk. to the deep cuts of Limpia Canyon and Madera Canyon. The map captures the meeting point of several county boundaries, including Pecos Co. and Jeff Davis Co., as the frontier era transitioned into a more settled ranching economy. Settlements like Toyahvale and Victoria appear along the northern drainages, marking early hubs of community life in the Davis Mountains.