1953 Map of Puente

About this map

Canadian River waters dominate this mid-century Texas Panhandle landscape, where the braided riverbed cuts deeply through the high plains of Potter County. The terrain is characterized by a network of drainage systems like John Ray Creek, Pitcher Creek, and West Amarillo Creek that have carved complex canyons into the surrounding tableland, notably around Indian Fort Mesa. Large cattle operations define the local economy and land use, with the Cross Bar Ranch, Fain Ranch, and Fuqua A Bar Ranch serving as primary landmarks. Transport is limited to the (A T & S F) railroad corridor and the F. M. Highway 1913, which passes the Canadian River Store and a Ford near a Gaging Sta. Numerous Windmill sites are scattered across the ranchlands, indicating the essential role of groundwater in this semi-arid environment during the early 1950s.