1957 Map of Merkel

About this map

Merkel and Trent anchor the northern corridor of this mid-century Taylor County survey, where the Texas and Pacific railroad and the Veterans World War II Highway cut a path across the West Texas landscape. The region transitions from the organized grid of these towns into a terrain defined by cattle ranching and energy extraction, most notably at the North Dora Oil Field. Notable family and community landmarks like Adrian Ranch, Rhodes Ranch, and Butman Camp are interspersed with several rural gathering places, including Pioneer Ch and White Church. The topography is punctuated by distinctive rises such as Blowout Mountain and Castle Peak, while the network of Mulberry Creek and Elm Creek provides the drainage for this high-plains cattle country.