1943 Map of Tepee Butte

About this map

High desert rangeland in Hudspeth County is defined by a critical network of water infrastructure and isolated livestock operations as documented in the early 1940s. The landscape is dotted with named catchments like Santiago Tank, Alabama Tank, and Mohawk Tank, which supported the region's sparse ranching outposts including the Lee Moore Ranch and Molesworth Ranch. The terrain is punctuated by distinctive landforms such as Tepee Butte and Granite Mtn, while deep incisions like Alamo Canyon reveal the erosive forces of seasonal runoff. This survey, conducted by H. S. Milsted and other topographers for the War Department, highlights a dependence on well-watered draws like South Well Draw and the essential Hobo Well, illustrating the logistical challenges of life and industry in the Trans-Pecos before modern modernization.