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1966 Map of Lucian Wells Ranch

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Lucian Wells Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Howard Co Glasscock Co boundary line bisects this 1960s landscape, where cattle ranching and early petroleum extraction defined the local economy. Deep in the heart of the Permian Basin, the terrain is characterized by the meandering courses of Mustang Draw, Panther Creek, and Polecat Creek. Settlement patterns are concentrated around family-named operations including the Lucian Wells Ranch, McDowell Ranch, and Hall Ranch, reflecting the enduring legacy of large-scale landholdings in West Texas.

Water management is a central theme of this survey, evidenced by the numerous named windmills scattered across the arid plains, such as the uniquely named School Bus Windmill and Brushy Windmill. The presence of an Oil Field near Buzzards Bend and a designated Landing Area near the center of the sheet highlights the mid-century industrialization of this rural ranching country, where pipeline networks began to crisscross the ancient draws.