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1893 Map of Rock Springs

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

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

The Rock Springs settlement anchors this 1890s survey of the Edwards Plateau, where the headwaters of the North Llano River and South Llano River carve through the limestone landscape of Sutton, Kimble, and Edwards counties. This era reveals a pastoral economy defined by widely scattered family ranching outposts rather than established towns. Genealogists can trace the early locations of several dozen properties, including Marsh & Taylor's Ranch, Hegermans Ranch, and Patterson Ranch.

A notable geological landmark, the Devils Sink Hole, appears in the south, marking the cavernous topography of the region. Practical survival in this arid terrain is evidenced by the mapping of specific water sources like the Eight Mile Water Hole and Ten Mile Water Hole. The lack of railroads or heavy development at this time highlights a period of isolation when travel relied on draws and hollows like Bull Hollow and Ten Mile Draw.