BlockBefore

Brewster County, Texas

135 topographic sheets and 3 fire insurance atlases across 1 place.

Research this county

From the record

14 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Brewster County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 1 place in this county was surveyed for fire insurance: Alpine, between 1927 and 1933.
  • 3 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 753 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 14 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 districts, 6 buildings and 1 site.
  • 7 of the 14 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 68 populated places in this county; 63 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

43 photographs, 1939 to 2014

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Repairing a pair of child's cowboy boots in saddle shop. Alpine, Texas
Repairing a pair of child's cowboy boots in saddle shop. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Repairing saddle. Alpine, Texas, saddle shop
Repairing saddle. Alpine, Texas, saddle shop
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Sunset over the low mountains in the rugged terrain north of Big Bend National Park in the "Trans-Pecos" region of southwest Texas
Sunset over the low mountains in the rugged terrain north of Big Bend National Park in the "Trans-Pecos" region of southwest Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
There's not much to graze on for these horses in the rugged terrain north of Big Bend National Park in the "Trans-Pecos" region of southwest Texas
There's not much to graze on for these horses in the rugged terrain north of Big Bend National Park in the "Trans-Pecos" region of southwest Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Mesa formation north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Mesa formation north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
[Scene inside Big Bend Ranch State Park, a Texas state park adjacent to the more-famous Big Bend National Park in southern Brewster County
[Scene inside Big Bend Ranch State Park, a Texas state park adjacent to the more-famous Big Bend National Park in southern Brewster County
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Photographer Carol M. Highsmith pauses between clicks of her Phase One 80-megapixel professional camera at the Santa Elena Canyon, deep in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas. A sheer rock wall in Mexico is to the left, one in the United States to the right
Photographer Carol M. Highsmith pauses between clicks of her Phase One 80-megapixel professional camera at the Santa Elena Canyon, deep in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas. A sheer rock wall in Mexico is to the left, one in the United States to the right
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Bootmaker pounding wooden peg into sole of boot in building up sole with several pieces of leather. Cowboy boot shop, Alpine, Texas
Bootmaker pounding wooden peg into sole of boot in building up sole with several pieces of leather. Cowboy boot shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Gluing lining into upper part of boot. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Gluing lining into upper part of boot. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
A portion of the Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Lajitas, an unincorporated town at the spot that separates Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park in southern Brewster County, Texas
A portion of the Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Lajitas, an unincorporated town at the spot that separates Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park in southern Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Cinch straps, bits, halters and chains in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Cinch straps, bits, halters and chains in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Applying pressure by means of sandbags to glued leather in saddle repairing shop. Alpine, Texas
Applying pressure by means of sandbags to glued leather in saddle repairing shop. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
A carved indian figure near the "ghost town," some of which is still occupied and some of which consists of ruins of the Chisos quicksilver-mining company which operated from 1905 into the early 1940s, and the residences of those who worked there. Terlingua, Texas
A carved indian figure near the "ghost town," some of which is still occupied and some of which consists of ruins of the Chisos quicksilver-mining company which operated from 1905 into the early 1940s, and the residences of those who worked there. Terlingua, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Stirrups, halters and ropes in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Stirrups, halters and ropes in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Rock formation just north of the entrance to Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Rock formation just north of the entrance to Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Isolated Terlingua settlement, just north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Isolated Terlingua settlement, just north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Saddle maker sewing saddle while repairing it. Saddle shop, Alpine, Texas
Saddle maker sewing saddle while repairing it. Saddle shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Placing pieces of leather into crimping machine to shape the lowers of the boots. Boot shop, Alpine, Texas
Placing pieces of leather into crimping machine to shape the lowers of the boots. Boot shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Canoers set off to navigate the Rio Grande River between the sheer rock faces of Santa Elena Canyon, deep in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas. Mexico is to the left, the United States to the right
Canoers set off to navigate the Rio Grande River between the sheer rock faces of Santa Elena Canyon, deep in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas. Mexico is to the left, the United States to the right
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Scene from Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Scene from Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Funky art mural "Hardware" in the isolated Terlingua settlement, just north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Funky art mural "Hardware" in the isolated Terlingua settlement, just north of Big Bend National Park in Texas's "Trans-Pecos" region
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Repairing saddle. Saddle shop, Alpine, Texas
Repairing saddle. Saddle shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Spurs and bits in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Spurs and bits in ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Scene in arid Big Bend National Park, which hugs the Rio Grande River in Brewster County, Texas
Scene in arid Big Bend National Park, which hugs the Rio Grande River in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Transferring pattern for stitching on the uppers of the boots. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Transferring pattern for stitching on the uppers of the boots. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Window display of ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Window display of ranch supply store. Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Part of a much-used, now-abandoned "western" movie set along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend Ranch State Park in lower Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
A view of the Rio Grande River, looking generally west, in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Brewster County, Texas. The rock formation to the right is in the United States, the sliver of green to the left in Mexico
A view of the Rio Grande River, looking generally west, in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Brewster County, Texas. The rock formation to the right is in the United States, the sliver of green to the left in Mexico
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Scene from Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Scene from Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Metal buildings near the deserted town of Lobo, south of Alpine in Brewster County, Texas
Metal buildings near the deserted town of Lobo, south of Alpine in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Crimping is accomplished by pulling down the lever on the crimping machine. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Crimping is accomplished by pulling down the lever on the crimping machine. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Rocky scene in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Rocky scene in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Rock formation in remote Brewster County, Texas, north of Big Bend National Park
Rock formation in remote Brewster County, Texas, north of Big Bend National Park
Highsmith, Carol M, 2014. Library of Congress
Cutting out the beading for boots. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas. This beading is a binding on the upper part of the boots
Cutting out the beading for boots. Bootmaking shop, Alpine, Texas. This beading is a binding on the upper part of the boots
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress
Castolon, Noncommissioned Officers' Quarters, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Castolon, Noncommissioned Officers' Quarters, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Castolon, Garlick House, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Castolon, Garlick House, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Castolon, Enlisted Men's Barracks-Store, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Castolon, Enlisted Men's Barracks-Store, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Sublett Stone Farm House, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Sublett Stone Farm House, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Castolon, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Castolon, Route 5, Castolon, Brewster County, TX
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

14

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Brewster County Courthouse and Jailbuilding197878002899
Castolon Historic Districtdistrict197474000276
Daniels Farm Housebuilding198989001627
Gage Hotelbuilding2020100005910
Grandview Courts-Siesta Moteldistrict2025100012263
Holland Hotelbuilding2025100011753
Hot Springssite197474000278
Luna Jacalbuilding197474000282
Mariscal Minedistrict197474000279
Nolte-Rooney Housebuilding199797000360
Panther Junction Mission 66 Historic Districtdistrict201414000626
Rancho Estelledistrict197474000280
Terlingua Historic Districtdistrict199696000132
Homer Wilson Ranchdistrict197575000153

Photographs from libraries nationwide

1 of 7 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 7 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Big Bend, The Grand Canyon of Texas, 74, Boston Public Library - undated
Big Bend, The Grand Canyon of Texas, 74. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 4,934 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-07-25, scale 1:20000
1947-07-25, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-07-25, scale 1:20000
1947-07-25, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-07-25, scale 1:20000
1947-07-25, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-07-25, scale 1:20000
1947-07-25, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-07-25, scale 1:45600
1948-07-25, scale 1:45600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-07-25, scale 1:45600
1948-07-25, scale 1:45600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-07-25, scale 1:45600
1948-07-25, scale 1:45600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-07-25, scale 1:45600
1948-07-25, scale 1:45600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-06, scale 1:63000
1954-05-06, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-06, scale 1:63000
1954-05-06, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-06, scale 1:63000
1954-05-06, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-06, scale 1:63000
1954-05-06, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-12-28, scale 1:63996
1957-12-28, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-12-28, scale 1:63996
1957-12-28, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-12-28, scale 1:63996
1957-12-28, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-12-28, scale 1:63996
1957-12-28, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-06, scale 1:63996
1958-02-06, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-06, scale 1:63996
1958-02-06, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-06, scale 1:63996
1958-02-06, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-06, scale 1:63996
1958-02-06, scale 1:63996. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-10, scale 1:30200
1967-02-10, scale 1:30200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-10, scale 1:30200
1967-02-10, scale 1:30200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-10, scale 1:30200
1967-02-10, scale 1:30200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-10, scale 1:30200
1967-02-10, scale 1:30200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-07, scale 1:30800
1968-02-07, scale 1:30800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:118725
1969-12-08, scale 1:118725. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:118725
1969-12-08, scale 1:118725. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:118725
1969-12-08, scale 1:118725. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:118725
1969-12-08, scale 1:118725. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-06-04, scale 1:32000
1970-06-04, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-06-04, scale 1:32000
1970-06-04, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-06-04, scale 1:32000
1970-06-04, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-06-04, scale 1:32000
1970-06-04, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-04-03, scale 1:28400
1971-04-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-04-03, scale 1:28400
1971-04-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-04-03, scale 1:28400
1971-04-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-04-03, scale 1:28400
1971-04-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-12-13, scale 1:37200
1973-12-13, scale 1:37200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-12-13, scale 1:37200
1973-12-13, scale 1:37200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-12-13, scale 1:37200
1973-12-13, scale 1:37200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-12-13, scale 1:37200
1973-12-13, scale 1:37200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-16, scale 1:23200
1974-01-16, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-16, scale 1:23200
1974-01-16, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-16, scale 1:23200
1974-01-16, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-01-16, scale 1:23200
1974-01-16, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-15, scale 1:32000
1975-04-15, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-15, scale 1:32000
1975-04-15, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-04-15, scale 1:32000
1975-04-15, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

54 stations, 6 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

12 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 22-1Justice Precinct 1: Alpine town: Alpine town - That part Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; E. Nations Ave., N. 5th, W. Ave A; N. 8th
  • 22-2Alpine town - That part Bounded by Town limits; N. 8th, W. Holland Ave., N. 7th; Texas and New Orleans Railroad; Town limits
  • 22-3BHolland Hotel ( In Alpine town )
  • 22-3AAlpine town - That part, excluding Holland Hotel, Bounded by W. Ave. A, N. 5th, E. Nations Ave.; Town limits; Texas and New Orleans Railroad; S. 7th, W. Holland Ave., N. 8th
  • 22-4Alpine town - That part Bounded by Texas and New Orleans Railroad; Town limits; Town limits; S. Walker, E. Ave. I, S. Cockrell
  • 22-5Alpine town - That part Bounded by Texas and New Orleans Railroad; S. Cockrell, E. Ave. I, S. Walker; Town limits; Alpine Creek
  • 22-6Alpine town - That part Bounded by Texas and New Orleans Railroad; S. 9th, Alpine Creek; Town limits; Town limits
  • 22-7Justice Precinct 1 - That part outside Alpine town
  • 22-8Justice Precinct 2:
  • 22-9Justice Precinct 3: Marathon, unincorporated Bounded by Unnamed rd. ext., Unnamed rd.; Unnamed rd., U.S. Hwy. 99, State Hwy. 227; Southwesterly line from junction of State Hwy. 227 and Unnamed rd. to junction of Unnamed rd. and Unnamed rd., Unnamed rd., Unnamed rd., Unnamed rd.; Colorado Creek
  • 22-10Justice Precinct 3 - That part outside unincorporated place of Marathon (See separate map for boundaries of Marathon)
  • 22-11Big Bend National Park

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

427 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 427 of them, burning about 335,564 acres. 272 started naturally and 10 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural272
Missing data/not specified/undetermined48
Debris and open burning26
Equipment and vehicle use18
Smoking16
Recreation and ceremony15
Arson/incendiarism10
Power generation/transmission/distribution9
Railroad operations and maintenance7
Misuse of fire by a minor5
Fireworks1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 May 2011Natural87,401 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceIRON MOUNTAIN FIRE
7 May 2011Natural83,995 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSCHWARTZ FIRE
9 April 2011Smoking41,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceROPER FIRE
28 May 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined25,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceWEST BRANCH - 1
24 April 2008Natural23,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCATHEDRAL FIRE
23 April 2009Natural10,135 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceELEPHANT MTN COMPLEX
1 March 2011Debris and open burning8,255 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMINE FIRE
8 May 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,975 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGAGE HOLLAND FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1954 to 2026

60 of 510 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 510 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 6 injuries and about $18,593,230 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail289
Thunderstorm Wind101
Flash Flood78
Tornado21
Heavy Rain17
Funnel Cloud2
Lightning1
Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
February 2003LightningPanther Junction1 killedA thunderstorm which moved across the Chisos Basin of the Texas Big Bend resulted in a lightning fatality. A man who was hiking in the Chisos Mountains died when he was struck by lightning. The man was reported missing by his wife two days later, and National Park rangers located his body within a few hours of the report. An autopsy confirmed a lightning strike was the cause of death. The time of the event is estimated based on archived satellite and lightning data.
June 1954Tornado (F0)not stated3 hurt, $2,500no account filed
June 1997HailStudy Butte2 hurt, $10,000North of where the RFD winds caused damage, hail up to softball size smashed car windshields and pummelled a couple of houses. One gentleman, who was attempting to close a window, was injured when hail broke the window and caused several facial lacerations. He was taken by private vehicle to the Alpine Hospital. A second man suffered minor cuts on his legs.
May 2005HailPanther Junction1 hurt, $5,000The National Weather Service Cooperative Observer at Heath Canyon, noted in the previous entry, sustained minor injuries when he was struck on the head by a very large hail stone. Baseball size stones were sporadically mixed with smaller hail, but additionally caused damage to a nearby trailer.
September 2008FloodLajitas$14,000,000Lajitas Resort and Spa owner reported flooding across most of his property. This included the Ambush Golf Course, which was covered in water.
October 1995HailAlpine$3,000,000An HP supercell moving to the southeast through northern Brewster County pummelled much of Alpine with large hail and high winds. The west and northwest sides of the city were hardest hit with windows knocked out of numerous houses, and about 200 homes having the paint blasted off the exterior walls. Many cars were damaged in the storm as well. The hail was two inches deep in some parts of town. During the storm a wind gust was measured at 56 mph. Total property damage was estimated at about $3 million.
May 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2010HailMarathon$150,000Several windows, roofs and other structural items were damaged at the Gage Hotel in Marathon, TX.
June 2012HailMarathon$122,000A thunderstorm moved over Brewster County and produced golfball hail in Marathon. Windows were broken and vehicles were dented from the hail. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 1998HailMarathon$100,000This small, but intense storm formed on an outflow boundary from storms to the north in Pecos County. The storm built right over the town of Marathon then slow moved to the southeast and weakened.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindAlpine Terlingua Arp$88,000A NWS Storm Survey concluded that damage was done to 44 power poles near Ranch Road 2627 in Brewster County, TX. Some of the poles were snapped 3 to 4 feet above the ground and all the poles fell to the south as the storm moved in the same direction around 20 mph. The poles were not consecutively snapped in a row. At times, there were 15 snapped...then a gap...and then more snapped as you moved southeastward down the line. Please see the attached images for a detailed look at the damage path.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindTerlingua$70,000Wind damage occurred to several buildings on a ranch located on Taurus Mesa. Much of the damage was limited to corrugated metal that was strewn across the countryside. Rear-flank downdraft (RFD) winds were thought to have been the mechanism for the high winds. The RFD then hit State Highway 118 where the Longhorn Ranch Motel sustained wind damage. A 12x20 foot sign was blown down as well as damage to doors and the roof.The Red Cross determined that 2 houses were destroyed and 6 houses sustained major damage in the area near the motel.
July 2025Flash FloodAlpine$50,000Emergency Management in Alpine reported one home inundated by flooding due to heavy rainfall and numerous road closures by local authorities. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar. The total cost of damages is also estimated.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindTitley$50,000Multiple power poles were found snapped along a nearly one-mile span on US Highway 67 near Hovey Rd. Time is estimated from radar. Maximum wind speed and property damage cost are estimations.
April 2004HailPanther Junction$50,000House windows and cars were heavily damaged.
August 2004Flash FloodAlpine$50,000The Alpine Police Department barricaded city streets at several low water crossings at 14:15 CST due to flash flooding. Shortly before 1600 CST Alpine Creek began to overflow its banks, and washed away the police barricades. During the next half hour, residents were evacuated from several homes along the creek as flood waters continued to rise.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindTerlingua$50,000Several structures at Terlingua Ranch sustained roof damage and a few barns were destroyed.
May 2010HailAlpine$45,000Several windows and skylights were broken by the hail on one home. In addition, two more homes received roof and window damage. One vehicle also reported damage.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindMarathon$45,000Severe thunderstorm winds resulted in the downing of three power poles, and the roofs being blown off of three trailer houses.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindLajitas$40,000Rio Grande Electric Coop and the public reported wind damage from Lajitas, TX to Terlingua, TX. The severe winds first damaged the roof of a home and 6 power poles in Lajitas around 1700 CST. As the storm moved northeastward, it snapped 4 more power poles along State Highway 170 from Lajitas to Terlingua.
April 1999HailPanther Junction$40,000This storm crossed the Rio Grande moving northeast over Castolon. The storm then turned right and displayed supercell characteristics. By the time the storm reached Rio Grande Village tennis ball size hail was falling as the storm proceeded straight east. The storm soon crossed into Mexico.
September 2022Flash FloodPanther Junction$30,000Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in the Big Bend National Park. A section of the Lost Mine Trail collapsed which resulted in heavy damage to that section of trail. The bottom of the trail was covered in rocks and the top of the trail was too narrow to safely cross. The trail was closed as a result. Also, high water and debris crossed the pavement along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The pavement was broken off and washed away. Logs and rocks were washed onto the road which made it unsafe to travel. The damage and debris resulted in the road being closed. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
April 2004HailLajitas$30,000Seven vehicles received hail damage during the storm.
August 2002Flash FloodAlpine$30,000no account filed
June 2014HailAlpine$29,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced baseball sized hail on the edge of Alpine. There were car dents, damaged shingles, and broken house windows as a result of this hail. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindPanther Junction$20,000Rio Grande Electric Coop reported 2 power poles were downed near Panther Junction, TX. The severe winds also damaged a roof to a hotel/lodge near the same area.
April 2003Flash FloodMarathon$20,000Local authorities reported minor damage to a few houses from flash flooding.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindAlpine$20,000Strong thunderstorms in the Alpine area dropped around 2 inches of rain in 40 minutes and contained at least one microburst that lifted a roof off a house, damaged a porch, overturned sheds, and downed utility lines and tree limbs.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindAlpine$20,000no account filed
May 2005HailPanther Junction$15,000A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer reported walnut to golfball size hail at Heath Canyon. The hail persisted for ten minutes, and caused damage to a travel trailer.
August 2022Flash FloodStudy Butte$10,000Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in Brewster County. Route 16 and Old Maverick from the Maverick Entrance were closed due to the flooding. Rocks up to bowling ball sized were being removed. A couple of cars were stalled. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindMarathon$10,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced wind damage near Marathon. At least four power poles were snapped off just above the ground along US 90. There was a transformer fire. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2008HailAlpine$10,000Brewster County emergency manager reported baseball sized hail at Hilltop Ranch.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindStudy Butte$10,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew several roofs off of outbuildings and rolled a recreational vehicle in the Study Butte/Terlingua Ranch area.
June 2005HailCastolon$10,000The National Park Service reported that large hail caused minor damage in Big Bend National Park. A visitor's rental car was damaged by hailstones estimated to be at least one inch in diameter at Santa Elena Canyon.
July 2004Flash FloodAlpine$10,000Heavy rainfall and excessive runoff resulted in flash flooding along Alpine Creek. Police officers barricaded several city streets as flood waters inundated the roadways. Water levels in some locations climbed to three feet. Damage was reported to be minimum, but several houses were threatened.
July 1997Flash FloodAlpine$10,000Training cells in the Alpine area caused heavy rains and flooding in the city. About 3.5 inches of rain fell over the western half of the city. A van stalled in an underpass and eventually was almost submerged with the roof extending only 18" above the water. Two other vehicles were stranded in water as well.
August 1997Thunderstorm WindAlpine$10,000A thunderstorm moving over the city of Alpine collapsed, producing a wet microburst that blew the roof off a trailer, overturned a carport, and knocked down sheds. The storm was not moving extremely fast (at 18kt) but was the fastest moving of the 44 cells on the Midland radar. The storm dumped half its volume in one 6 minute scan with the VIL dropping from 38 to 19 kg/m2. The debris was blown in the direction of the storm movement (NE-SW).
May 2019Thunderstorm WindMarathon$6,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced wind damage in Marathon. There was structural damage with a roof off on the west side of town. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindAlpine Muni Arpt$5,000Wind-driven hail damage was reported at Big Bend Regional Medical Center with broken windows. Hail size ranged from penny to half dollar size. Wind speed is estimated to have been between 70 to 80 mph. Property damage is an estimation.
September 2022Flash FloodPanther Junction$5,000Heavy rain resulted in flooding in Big Bend National Park. All dirt roads, backcountry roadside campsites, and at least one paved road were closed throughout Big Bend National Park due to flooding. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
October 2021Flash FloodPanther Junction$5,000Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in Big Bend National Park near Rio Grande Village. Several dirt roads were reported closed or impassible due to debris and mud remaining from localized flash flooding. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindAlpine$5,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced wind damage in Alpine. A power pole was blown down and signs were shattered and blown down due to strong winds and hail. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindAlpine$5,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced an estimated 65 mph wind gust in Alpine. A tree fell on a vehicle. The size of the tree and damage to the vehicle are unknown. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindMarathon$5,000A porch was blown off a rural residence near U.S. Highway 90 in northeastern Brewster County. Large hail up to the size of nickels accompanied the damaging wind gusts.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindStudy Butte$5,000A large water tank was blown over by severe thunderstorm winds near the Terlingua Ranch Lodge east of State Highway 118.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindMarathon$5,000Three utility poles were knocked down by thunderstorm outflow winds. Power company officials estimated the wind to have been near 100 mph since the poles were a higher grade than most utility poles. Power was knocked out to customers over a vast area in parts of Brewster County.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindAlpine$5,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindAlpine$3,000A cluster of small storms moved over Alpine with microburst winds knocking down utility poles and blowing out windows.
June 1997HailPanther Junction$3,000Baseball size hail broke windows in at least one car in the northern portions of Big Bend National Park on the extension of U.S. Highway 385.
August 1997Thunderstorm WindStudy Butte$3,000A wet microburst destroyed two cab-over pickup truck trailers. One trailer was thrown over utility lines into an adjacent yard while the other trailer was thrown into a utility pole.
May 1975Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1962Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1958Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
May 2015Thunderstorm WindStudy Butte$2,000A thunderstorm moved across Brewster County and produced wind damage near Terlingua. Two power poles were reported to have been knocked down by wind on Highway 118 and Farm to Market Road 170. The winds were estimated to be 80+ mph. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindMarathon$2,000The local law enforcement reported power lines down at the border patrol checkpoint.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindAlpine$2,000A transmission power pole was reported down along State Highway 118.
May 1999HailAlpine$2,000Car windows damaged.
July 2005Flash FloodLajitas$1,000The public reported that flowing flood waters had washed away high water markers in low water crossings on several roads.
May 2003HailMarathon$1,000Trained storm spotters reported very large hail along Highway 385 south of Marathon. Stones ranging in size from quarters to tennis balls were reported. No significant damage was reported. Hail accumulated over one foot deep and persisted in drifts beyond 2015 CST.

Mines and quarries

88 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 88 workings inside this county. 11 still produce and 77 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Mercury37
Fluorine-Fluorite17
Uranium7
Manganese4
Barium-Barite4
Bentonite3
Sand and Gravel, Construction3
Fluorine-Fluorite, Uranium2
Iron2
Uranium, Fluorine-Fluorite1
Manganese, Silver, Gold1
Silver1
Copper1
Silver, Lead, Molybdenum, Copper, Zinc1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bird MineSilver, Lead, Molybdenum, Copper, ZincProducer1885
Bissett ProspectCopperOccurrenceChrysocolla
Burdett ProspectManganese, Silver, GoldOccurrence
Paisano MineFluorine-Fluorite, Silica, Limestone, GeneralProducer1971
Unnamed ProspectUranium, Fluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Unnamed ProspectSilverOccurrenceVein
Unnamed ProspectUranium, CopperOccurrenceUranophane
Unnamed ProspectMolybdenum, CopperOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectCopper, ManganeseOccurrence
Webb PitStoneProducer
Woodward Ranch MineGemstoneProducer
Hess Ranch ProspectIronOccurrenceReplacement
HudspethIronUnknown
Unnamed ProspectFluorine-Fluorite, UraniumOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectFluorine-Fluorite, UraniumOccurrence
Alpine Bentonite PitBentoniteOccurrenceBentonite
Bentonite MineBentoniteProducer
Border Mines Bentonite PlantBentoniteProducer
Kimball Quarry & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
The Ranch Pit & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerGravel, Sand
Clark ProspectManganeseOccurrenceIron
LockhausenBarium-BariteUnknown
Stephenson ProspectManganeseUnknown
Unnamed OccurrenceManganeseOccurrenceIron
Unnamed OccurrenceBarium-BariteOccurrenceVein
Unnamed OccurrenceBarium-BariteOccurrenceBarite
Unnamed ProspectBarium-BariteOccurrenceVein
Unnamed ProspectManganeseOccurrence
Adobe Walls MineMercury, UraniumPast ProducerCarnotite, Cinnabar
Anderson Ranch ProspectUraniumOccurrenceCarnotite
Black Mountain ProspectUraniumOccurrence
Fizzle Flat and Green Valley ProspectsUraniumOccurrenceCarnotite, Tyuyamunite
Nevill Ranch OccurrenceUraniumOccurrenceCarnotite
Stillwell Mountain ProspectUraniumOccurrence
Unnamed OccurrenceUraniumOccurrence
Big Bend National Park DepositsFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Corazones Peaks DistrictFluorine-FluoriteUnknown
Marathon PlantFluorine-FluoriteProducer
Paisano MineFluorine-FluoritePast ProducerFluorite
Paisano MineFluorine-FluoriteProducer1952, 1971, 1982
Piedra Azul ProspectFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence1952
Unnamed OccurrenceFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Unnamed OccurrenceFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Unnamed OccurrencesFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed OccurrencesFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed OccurrencesFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed OccurrencesFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed OccurrencesFluorine-FluoriteOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Unnamed ProspectsFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Unnamed ProspectsFluorine-FluoriteOccurrenceReplacement
Brown ProspectsMercuryOccurrenceVein
Canyon Group ProspectMercuryProspectCinnabar
Chisos MineMercuryPast Producer1897, 1903, 1943
Colquitt Tigner MineMercuryPast Producer1925, 1934
Coltrin's Camp OccurrenceMercuryOccurrence
Duncan MineMercuryPast ProducerVein
Fernandes MineMercuryPast ProducerVein
LafarelleMercuryOccurrenceVein
Le Roi ProspectMercuryOccurrenceVein
Little Thirty-Eight MineMercuryPast Producer1933
Lone Star MineMercuryPast ProducerVein
Lowe ProspectMercuryProspectCinnabar
Maggie Sink Mine (Bobs)MercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
Marathon Dome ProspectMercuryProspect1945
Margaret D MineMercuryPast ProducerVein
Mariposa MineMercuryPast Producer1884, 1895, 1945
Mariscal MineMercuryPast Producer1900, 1917, 1943
Monte Cristo and Croesus ClaimsMercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
Pickens Oil ProspectMercuryOccurrenceReplacement
Rainbow MineMercuryPast Producer1900, 1916, 1942
Rio Grande Prospect (Sec. 70, Block 341)MercuryOccurrenceVein
Rio Grande Quicksilver Co. claims (Sec. 40, Block G-12)MercuryOccurrenceReplacement
Sample Group MineMercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
Section 98 ProspectsMercuryOccurrenceSolution-Cavity Filling
Star MineMercuryPast ProducerVein
Study Butte MineMercuryPast Producer1902, 1903, 1972
Tarrant Property in Sec. 18MercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
Tarrant Property in Sec. 39MercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
Terlingua DistrictMercuryPast Producer1840, 1888, 1973
Two-Forty-Eight MineMercuryPast Producer1902, 1926, 1945
Unnamed MineMercuryPast Producer
Unnamed ProspectMercuryOccurrenceVein
Unnamed ProspectMercuryOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectsMercuryOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectsMercuryOccurrence
Waldron Workings in Sec. 40MercuryPast Producer1910, 1935

Every populated place in the county

68

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 1 place that was also surveyed for fire insurance comes first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

The vanished settlements of Brewster County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Alpine, Texas

14 topographic sheets and 3 fire insurance atlases, 1927 to 1933

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

24 structures

The vanished settlements of Brewster County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.