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1906 Map of Van Horn

Name: 1906 Topographic Map of Van Horn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

Mining and ranching define the Trans-Pecos landscape on this 1906 survey of the Van Horn Mountains and surrounding desert flats. The region's mineral wealth is evident at the Hazel Mine and Blackshaft Mine, while a Marble Quarry sits tucked into the Diablo Mountains. Settlement is largely dictated by water sources, with isolated holdings such as Medley's Ranch, Bean's Ranch, and Figure Two Ranch scattered across the basin.

Transport is anchored by the Texas and Pacific railroad, which parallels the southern edge through the high desert. Significant landmarks include the shimmering Salt Lake near the Tat Hulin Ranch and the rugged passage at Seven-Heart Gap. The map documents a sparsely populated but industrially active frontier, where ephemeral drainage like Wildhorse Creek and various developed wells, such as Canon's Double Wells, were vital to the local economy.