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1956 Map of Arroyo Clareno

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Arroyo Clareno
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Rio Grande marks the international boundary between Texas and Tamaulipas in this South Texas borderland, where the landscape is defined by vast family-held pastures and ranching operations. The terrain is deeply etched by ephemeral drainages such as Arroyo Clareno and Arroyo del Tigre, which flow through the extensive E Gutierrez Pastures and Serapio Vela Pasture. These holdings reflect the heritage of the region's land grants, with many sites like San Antonio De La Huerta Ranch and Ranchito Arredondo serving as the primary hubs of activity in a sparse, arid environment.

Industrial development is evident in the northeast and southeast, with the Haynes Oil Field (Comitas) and the Duke Lanford Oil Field showing the 20th-century shift toward petroleum extraction. While many ranches remain active, the label for La Purisima Ranch indicates the shifting settlement patterns of the era. The infrastructure of the time is visible in the presence of the United Gas System and essential water features like Los Habitos Tank and the Casa Verde Well.