1954 Map of Pecos

About this map

The Pecos River carves through this arid landscape, serving as a vital artery for early irrigation projects and livestock in the mid-1950s. This survey, updated in the 1970s, reveals a region defined by its extreme terrain and expanding energy sector. Extensive Sand Hills dominate the northeast, punctuated by the Monahans Sand Hills State Park. The infrastructure of the West Texas oil boom is evident in the dense network of pipelines and service roads surrounding Kermit, Wink, and Monahans. Transportation corridors follow the path of the Texas and Pacific and the Pecos Valley Southern railroads, which helped facilitate the shipment of cattle and petroleum. Smaller communities like Mentone and Verhalen appear alongside the expansive waters of the Red Bluff Reservoir and Imperial Reservoir, illustrating the human effort to manage water in a desert environment.