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1957 Map of Abilene East

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Abilene East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Hardin-Simmons University and Abilene Christian College anchor the northern expansion of Abilene during this mid-century period of growth. The map illustrates a dense institutional landscape including the Abilene State Hospital, McMurry College, and the Hendrick Home for Children. To the east, the rural character persists near the settlement of Elmdale, where the Missouri Pacific railroad cuts across the prairie towards the Taylor and Callahan County line.

Hydrological features such as Lytle Lake and Kirby Lake define the southern geography, providing essential water resources for the developing city and the Abilene Municipal Airport. The transition from the urban core, marked by the Courthouse and City Cem, to the outlying oil fields and gravel pits reveals the dual economic foundations of education and industry that shaped this part of West Texas.