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1893 Map of Fort McKavett

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Fort McKavett
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1904
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1904

About this map

Fort Mc Kavett anchors this 1891 survey, situated at the headwaters of the San Saba River where the Edwards Plateau transitions into a network of dry draws and seasonal creek beds. The landscape is defined by the early ranching economy of West Texas, documented here before the widespread establishment of formal towns. Family names dominate the geography, from the Henderson Brothers Ranch in the north to the Adams Ranch near the southern border.

Strategic water sources dictate the placement of these early holdings, with Pecan Springs and the Llano River serving as vital landmarks in Kimble and Sutton counties. The map traces the intricate drainage patterns of Middle Valley and North Valley, revealing how the topography shaped the movement of livestock and settlers. For the researcher, the distinction between active sites and those marked as Bates Old Ranch or Rileys Old Ranch offers a specific window into the shifting fortunes of late nineteenth-century frontier life.