1895 Map of Marfa

About this map

The Marfa plateau of the Big Bend region is defined here by the convergence of early rail travel and ranching outposts. Based on an 1893 survey by R.O. Gordon, the map illustrates the Southern Pacific railroad line, operated as the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Division, cutting across Ryan Flat. Along this corridor, small stops like Aragon and Ryan serve as essential hubs for a landscape dominated by livestock and geography. To the south, the topography transitions into the dramatic heights of Cuesta Del Burro and the Cleveland Breaks. Early cattle operations and water points are documented through sites like Porter's Ranch, Humphris, and the Stage Stand, marking the logistical realities of high-desert life before modern infrastructure. Drainage systems like Alamito Creek and Saucita Creek provided the necessary lifelines for these remote Presidio County settlements.