1969 Map of Rudd Draw

About this map

Wheat Oil Field dominates the southern landscape of this Loving County region, where the extraction economy of the late 1960s is evidenced by a dense network of Drill Holes, Oil Wells, and a prominent Pipeline. This arid basin, punctuated by the seasonal drainage of Rudd Draw, shows the precarious balance of water in the West through a series of named water sources and ranching infrastructure. Isolated outposts like Slash Ranch and various livestock watering points, including Gilliland Tank and Gillespie Tank, are linked by unimproved roads and fence lines. The presence of a Landing Field near the center of the sheet and specialized water points like White Mule Well and Rondo Well underscore the industrial and agricultural logistics required to maintain operations in this desert environment during the post-war energy boom.