1940 Map of San Loranzo Creek

About this map

The borderlands between Dimmit and Webb counties reveal a landscape defined by expansive cattle operations and critical water management during the early 1940s. Centered around San Lorenzo Creek, the area is punctuated by family-held ranching estates including Brown Ranch, Espejo Ranch, and Roberts Ranch. These outposts are supported by a network of man-made reservoirs like Ojita Tank and Tordillo Tank, essential for survival in this arid Brush Country environment. The terrain is largely dominated by ephemeral drainages such as Tierra Blanca Creek and Espada Creek, while the Dos Hermanos Peaks provide a rare topographical anchor in the otherwise undulating plains. To the south, Espada Ranch and Puig Ranch sit along the winding path of Santa Alvido Creek, marking the deep-rooted ranching heritage that persisted even as military surveys like those from the Corps of Engineers and U.S. Army Air Corps documented the region.