1918 Map of Indian Wells

About this map

Rio Grande defines the stark southern boundary of this West Texas landscape, winding along the international border with Mexico. Surveyed during the First World War, this map documents the isolated ranching life of Brewster and Terrell Counties, where life centered around scattered outposts like Garcia Ranch, Elders Ranch, and Stewart Ranch. The terrain is characterized by a complex network of dry washes and deep incisions, including Washboard Canyon and Isinglass Canyon, which drain toward the river. The small settlement at San Francisco and the namesake Indian Wells provide critical geographic markers in an otherwise sparsely populated territory. The map serves as a primary record of early 20th-century land use in the Big Bend region, illustrating the reliance on ephemeral water sources like San Francisco Creek and Candilla Creek for livestock and habitation.