QUITMAN MOUNTAINS. The Quitman Mountains begin seven miles west of Sierra Blanca and end twenty-four miles to the southeast in south central Hudspeth County (their center point is 31°03' N, 105°26' W). The highest elevation in the range is 6,589 feet above sea level. The Quitmans are a Rocky Mountain range uplifted during the Late Cretaceous period, some 60 million years ago. They are steep and rocky, with numerous box canyons. Their shallow stony soils, with some clay and sandy loams, support live oak, piñon, juniper, and grasses. At their higher elevations grow Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, maple, Arizona cypress, and madrone. The mountains were named for John Anthony Quitman.^qv