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1957 Map of Pecos

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Pecos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Pecos River carves a diagonal path through this 1950s West Texas landscape, serving as a boundary for counties such as Loving, Ward, and Pecos. This era represents a peak for the region's energy economy, evidenced by the dense concentration of petroleum infrastructure including the Chapel Oil Field, Goldsmith Oil Field, and the University-Waddell Oil and Gas Field. The industrial character is balanced by significant military and transport hubs like the Pyote Air Force Base and the Texas and Pacific RR line connecting towns like Monahans, Pyote, and Barstow.

Tracing the desert floor reveals ancient landmarks like the Horsehead Crossing and the prominent Sand Hills. To the east, the urban centers of Odessa and Midland show their mid-century footprints, while smaller settlements like Mentone, Wink, and Saragosa anchor the ranching and drilling operations of the Permian Basin. Rare water features such as Santa Rosa Spring and Red Bluff Lake stand out in this arid terrain.