Loading map...

1968 Map of Tesnus

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Tesnus
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad cuts through the northern high desert landscape of Brewster County, providing the primary infrastructure for this remote ranching and transit area. The settlement of Tesnus serves as a key waypoint along the line, positioned just east of the Copeland Trap and the prominent rising face of Castle Mountain. The topography is defined by significant elevation changes, ranging from the intricate drainage systems of China Draw and Negro Creek to the jagged elevations of Panther Peaks and Shely Peaks.

Land use patterns are evidenced by the inclusion of a Drill Hole and several water features such as Maxon Creek and Alamo Creek, which are essential for livestock in this arid environment. Of particular interest to local historians is the uniquely named Hells Half Acre, a complex area of broken terrain west of Rough Creek. The map also meticulously documents local boundaries and range management through fine red lines representing selected fence lines, which provide insight into the parceling of large Texas land holdings during the late 1960s.