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1893 Map of Rock Springs

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Rock Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1925
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1925

About this map

The Rock Springs settlement stands as the primary hub in this late 19th-century survey of the Texas Hill Country, situated at the headwaters of Hackberry Creek. The landscape of the Edwards Plateau is defined here by a network of private holdings and cattle operations rather than dense townships. Family-named outposts like Marsh & Taylor's Ranch, Patterson Ranch, and Stegalls Ranch are scattered across the broken terrain of Sutton, Kimble, and Edwards counties.

Critical water sources appear as key landmarks in this arid environment, including the North Llano River and the South Llano River. Notable geological and hydrologic features such as the Devils Sink Hole and isolated spots like Eight Mile Water Hole and Ten Mile Water Hole highlight the reliance on natural depressions and sinkholes for survival in the ranching economy. The map traces the early road paths connecting these remote ranches to the county seat, providing a clear record of frontier land division before modern development.