Loading map...

1952 Map of Ashwood

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ashwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Ashwood and the surrounding coastal prairies of the Matagorda and Brazoria county line are defined by a complex network of meandering waterways and the mid-century energy economy. In the early 1950s, the landscape was divided between traditional agricultural settlements like Allenhurst and the rising industrial footprint of the Sugar Valley and Old Ocean oil fields. The eastern portion of the map is dominated by an extensive Oil Refinery and numerous Oil Tanks near Abercrombie, marking the region's shift toward large-scale petroleum production.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the social fabric of the era through landmarks such as Union Ch, Bethlehem Ch, and the Free System Cem. The physical geography is intricately detailed, showing the winding course of Caney Creek and its many oxbows, alongside the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroad lines that facilitated the movement of both sugar and oil. Notable water features like Linnville Bayou and Shoe Sugar Pond highlight the low-lying, bayou-crossed terrain characteristic of the Texas Gulf Coast.