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1918 Map of Santiago Peak

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Santiago Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

Santiago Peak dominates this 1917 survey of the Big Bend region, rising sharply above the complex drainages of the Santiago Mountains. This map reflects the high-desert ranching economy of the early twentieth century, marking isolated headquarters such as the Combs Cattle Co Ranch and Fords Ranch. The landscape is defined by its water sources, with numerous named springs and intermittent waterways like Maravillas Creek and Chalk Draw cutting through the terrain.

A significant geological and travel corridor is visible at Maravillas Gap, where the creek breaks through the mountain range. To the south, Schuler Ranch sits near the lower reaches of the draw, illustrating the strategic placement of early Texas settlements near reliable topography and seasonal flows. The detailed contouring provides a precise record of the basin-and-range landforms, including Black Mtn and the broad Mesa in the southern portion of the quadrangle.