1979 Map of Mercury

About this map

The Colorado River carves a winding path through the borderlands of McCulloch, Coleman, and Brown counties, serving as the central geographic feature of this late 1970s landscape. Small settlements like Winchell and Mercury anchor the local geography, connected by a network of ranch roads and an Old Railroad Grade that speaks to former transit routes through the region. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations such as Morgan Mountain and High Lonesome, alongside numerous seasonal water sources named with ranching utility in mind, including Beef Pasture Tank and Goodnight Tank. A scattering of Gas Wells and Oil Wells across the hillsides indicates the energy extraction prevalent in this era. For those tracing local heritage, the map identifies the Winchell Cem and Cox Cem, while travelers of the time would recognize the Mercury Heart of Texas Roadside Park.