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1959 Map of Spade Ranch

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Spade Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Spade Ranch (Headquarters) serves as the focal point for this section of Mitchell County, documented during a 1959 field check. This ranching landscape is defined by an intricate network of water management features, including Wildcat Tank, Geneva Tank, and the Hollywood Tank, which are essential for livestock in this semi-arid region. The drainage systems of Wildhorse Creek and Beals Creek converge toward the Colorado River at the eastern edge of the quadrangle.

Topographic relief is provided by Beals Mtn and the high point at VABM Spade 2203. The presence of a Gravel Pit and a private Aqueduct near Renderbrook Creek suggests the localized infrastructure necessary to support large-scale cattle operations. This survey captures the ranching economy just before later 20th-century developments, preserving the locations of specific family-named landmarks like Van Zandt Tanks and Bailey Tank.