1967 Map of Shafter Draw

About this map

The West Texas ranchlands along the border of Sutton and Crockett counties are defined by a complex network of dry watercourses in this 1967 survey. Prominent drainage systems like Granger Draw and Shafter Draw carve through the plateau, creating a landscape where water access was the primary driver of human activity. The map records a series of established pastoral outposts including Johnson Ranch, Magruder Ranch, and Nicks Ranch, each strategically positioned relative to the draws. Isolated water sources, documented here as Shafter Well, Indian Well, and Bean Well, highlight the infrastructure required for livestock operations in this arid environment. An Indefinite Boundary runs between Cave Draw and Slocum Draw, reflecting the challenges of precise surveying in this rugged canyon-and-draw topography during the mid-20th century. Numerous small Gravel Pits are scattered near the major draws, indicating local material extraction for ranch road maintenance.