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1971 Map of Middle Water

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Middle Water
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The High Plains of Hartley County are defined here by the diagonal passage of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad, which anchors the small community of Middle Water. In this semi-arid landscape, the distribution of water is the primary driver of human settlement and ranching operations. The map documents a sophisticated network of water sources, from family-named features like Harder Well and Salthouse Well to landmarks such as the Steel Windmill and Red Windmill.

South of the tracks, the terrain descends toward the valley of Punta de Agua Creek, where established cattle operations like Dammier Ranch and Taylor Ranch utilized the natural drainage of the Llano Estacado. The economy of the early 1970s is further evidenced by industrial extraction sites, including a Gravel Pit and a Sandpit located near the rail line. This survey provides a precise record of the ranching infrastructure and hydrological features that sustained life in the Texas Panhandle during the late 20th century.