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1963 Map of Old X Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Old X Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Worsham Ranch and Old X Ranch anchor this West Texas landscape, illustrating the scale of ranching operations in Reeves County during the early 1960s. The map reveals an intricate network of resource extraction and industrial testing, most notably seen in the southeastern corner at the Automotive Proving Ground. This specialized facility suggests a transition in land use from traditional cattle ranging toward industrial and technological experimentation.

Evidence of subterranean wealth is scattered throughout the terrain, documented by numerous labels for Oil Wells, Gas Wells, and various Drill Holes. The vital importance of water management in this arid region is marked by a prominent Aqueduct, a Pumping Sta, and family-named water sources like the Luther Well and South Well. These features, along with an extensive system of Pipelines, show how the high desert was modified to support both energy production and livestock.