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1897 Map of Valentine

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Valentine
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

The high desert and mountain frontier of Far West Texas appear in this 1894 survey, dominated by the massif of the Davis Mountains. The rail-stop settlement of Valentine serves as the primary hub along the Southern Pacific R. R., marking a critical point for transport across the arid landscape. The map reveals an economy of isolated cattle outposts and family homesteads, with water sources determining the locations of Newman's Ranch, Prude's Ranch, and Evans Ranch situated far into the foothills.

Elevations rise sharply to prominent landmarks like Baldy Peak and Sawtooth Mt, while the terrain is deeply incised by drainages such as Little Aguja Canyon and Madera Canyon. The survey captures the complex jurisdictional boundaries where Jeff Davis, Presidio, and El Paso counties meet, reflecting the administrative challenges of this high-altitude cattle country during the late nineteenth century.