1940 Map of Paloma

About this map

The Eighth Corps Area and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers documented this landscape of Maverick County just as World War II began, highlighting a sparsely settled ranching and utility corridor. The Texas (Southern Pacific) railroad cuts across the northern terrain near Burr Ranch, while the central portion of the map is defined by the Chittim Gas Field and the infrastructure of the Texas Gas Utilities Co. Small settlements like Paloma and Olmos are located along the drainages of Elm Creek and Rosita Creek, showing the reliance on intermittent water sources in this South Texas brush country. Numerous livestock tanks, such as Delta Tank and Indian Tank, illustrate the water management required for large-scale cattle operations like the Sullivan Ranch. The presence of a Hunting Lodge in the southwest quadrant underscores the recreational use of these expansive private holdings during the mid-20th century.