Loading map...

1986 Map of Slaton

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Slaton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Slaton and the high plains of the Llano Estacado define this mid-1980s landscape, where the transition from flat cotton fields to the erosional breaks of the Caprock is clearly visible. The Santa Fe railroad cuts a diagonal path across the grid, connecting regional hubs like Tahoka and Lubbock to the smaller siding settlements of Southland and Wilson. This era shows the extensive agricultural and industrial footprint of the region, specifically noted by the vast PHD Oil Field and numerous smaller oil operations scattered across the plateau.

Eastward, the terrain shifts dramatically into The Badlands and Canyon Valley, where the headwaters of the Brazos River system begin to carve into the earth. Features like Courthouse Mountain and the steep descent of Yellow House Canyon provide a sharp contrast to the geometric precision of the western section. Water management is central to the area's development, evidenced by the White River Reservoir and the series of alkaline basins including Tahoka Lake and Double Lakes that dot the southern plains.