1969 Map of Welch West

About this map

Welch Oil Field dominates this West Texas landscape, illustrating the intensive petroleum extraction character of the Permian Basin during the late 1960s. The settlement of Welch sits on the eastern edge of the survey, marked by a Wt (water tower) and a grid of local roads. The terrain is defined by the broad, meandering path of Sulphur Springs Draw, which cuts diagonally across the quadrangle. Outside of the primary oil field, the land is dotted with numerous individual Oil Wells and several Gravel Pits, indicating a landscape shaped almost entirely by resource extraction. The map also records several political boundaries where Terry, Gaines, and Dawson counties meet, showing how these administrative lines intersect with the industrial infrastructure of the day.