1961 Map of Herring Ranch

About this map

Ballinger City Lake dominates the southeast corner of this West Texas landscape, serving as a significant water resource for the surrounding ranching and oil country. The area is defined by the winding course of Valley Creek and its tributaries, including Quarry Creek and Mustang Branch. Throughout the terrain, the extraction economy is evident through the widespread Motley Oil Field, marked by numerous Oil Wells, Gas Wells, and a connecting network of pipelines. Small family-named settlements and landmarks like Norton, Hatchel, and Herring Ranch indicate the rural community structure of Runnels County during this period. Local social life is anchored by features such as Valley View Ch, while the industrial footprint extends to a Pumping Sta and various borrow pits that supported the development of Highway 158 as it cuts across the prairie.