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1895 Map of Sierra Blanca

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Sierra Blanca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1928
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1928

About this map

Sierra Blanca serves as a critical junction in West Texas, where the iron rails of the late nineteenth century converge amidst a high-desert landscape of prominent peaks and deep ravines. Surveyed in 1891, the map captures the strategic importance of this corridor as the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad meets the Texas and Pacific Railroad. These lines parallel the southern edge of the Sierra Diablo and the northern flank of the Quitman Mountains.

Tiny rail stops like Etholen, Arispe, and Grayton are documented with their exact elevations, marking the slow ascent through this trans-continental passage. The rugged southern topography is defined by Devils Canyon, while isolated landmarks such as Triple Hill and Tabernacle Mt rise from the basin floor, providing essential orientation for travelers and surveyors navigating the Hudspeth County terrain.