Loading map...

1983 Map of Ryan

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Ryan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Southern Pacific tracks cut a straight diagonal across the High Plains of the Trans-Pecos in the early 1980s, anchoring the small settlement of Ryan. This arid landscape is defined by the broad expanse of Ryan Flat and the intricate drainage systems that feed it, including Medley Draw, Owls Nest Draw, and Ryan Draw. The map reveals the critical importance of water management in this cattle-country environment, documented through numerous scattered features like Horseshoe Tank and various wells.

The boundary between Jeff Davis Co and Presidio Co runs through the northern section of the map, where the terrain begins to rise toward Owls Nest Canyon. Human presence is sparse, centered primarily on the infrastructure of the railroad and isolated outposts like the Evans Ranch. A Roadside Park along the highway serves as one of the few public landmarks in this vast stretch of West Texas ranch land.