1967 Map of Shafter Draw

About this map

The boundary between Crockett Co and Sutton Co runs through a landscape defined by an intricate network of seasonal drainage channels and cattle operations. Published following fieldwork in the late 1960s, this survey reveals the isolation of the West Texas Edwards Plateau, where the local economy and survival center on scattered water sources like Indian Well and Bean Well. Prominent landforms such as Panther Bluff rise above the major drainages, including the wide corridor of Granger Draw and the namesake Shafter Draw. The map meticulously records family-named ranching outposts, including Johnson Ranch, Magruder Ranch, and Karnes Ranch, which serve as the primary human identifiers across the canyon-cut terrain. This period represents the transition into more modern ranch management, indicated by the network of unimproved roads and light-duty tracks connecting these remote holdings.