1895 Map of Marfa

About this map

The high plateau and rugged escarpments of the Trans-Pecos region are defined here by the Southern Pacific Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Div. railroad, which cuts a straight line across Ryan Flat. This late 19th-century survey documents the cattle-ranching landscape before modern development, centered on the emerging hub of Marfa. Smaller stopping points like Ryan and Aragon serve the rail line, while isolated outposts such as Humphris, Bogel, and Porter's Ranch mark the difficult terrain between the Oak Hills and the massive Cuesta Del Burro. The presence of a Stage Stand near the southern hills indicates the persisting reliance on overland trail travel even as the railroad transformed the region. The drainage network, including Capote Draw and Alamito Creek, illustrates the seasonal water sources critical for life in this arid environment.