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1980 Map of Sierra Madera

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Sierra Madera
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Sierra Madera dominates the northeastern landscape of this Pecos County region, a prominent geologic structure rising above the surrounding arid plains. In the early 1980s, this area reflects a ranching and energy-focused economy, where life is defined by the availability of water and the extraction of natural resources. Cattle ranching operations like Elsinore Ranch are supported by a series of engineered water sources including Canyon Tank, Home Pasture Tank, and Huelem Tank, alongside scattered wells like Lockwood Well.

Natural drainage patterns are marked by ephemeral washes such as Sixshooter Draw, Number Four Draw, and Belding Draw, which carve through the terrain. The presence of numerous Gas Wells, Drill Holes, and several Landing Strips indicates the industrial footprint of petroleum exploration during this era. Scattered Gravel Pits further highlight the local utilization of geological materials in this sparsely populated West Texas environment.