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1929 Map of Independence Draw Quadrangle

Name: 1929 Topographic Map of Independence Draw Quadrangle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1929
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1929

About this map

Old Spanish Trail cuts across a landscape of mesas and draws in this 1929 reconnaissance by N. H. Darton, documenting the transition from the high plateaus of Pecos and Terrell Counties down toward the Pecos River. The map reflects an era of early oil exploration and ranching, featuring numerous family-named outposts such as Harral Headquarters, White and Baker, and Mcgreager.

Remote settlements and infrastructure like Independence and the Salt Works are situated among prominent landforms including Sherbin Mesa and McKenzie Mesa. The presence of the Free (Abd) label indicates a location already abandoned by the late 1920s. Detailed topography, including Surveyor Canyon and Independence Draw, provides a clear view of the water sources and trail routes essential for survival and commerce in West Texas before the modernization of the highway system.