1952 Map of Ashwood

About this map

Industrial development and agricultural land meet at the coastal plains along the border of Matagorda and Brazoria counties. This 1952 survey, updated with 1970s aerial data, shows the expansion of the Old Ocean Oil Field and the Sugar Valley Oil Field, dominated by a large Oil Refinery and extensive networks of Pipe Lines. The landscape is defined by the winding course of Caney Creek and its many offshoots, including Snead Slough and Wildcat Slough. Amidst the heavy infrastructure of the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads, traditional community markers remain. Small settlements like Ashwood, Hasima, and Allenhurst are documented alongside local landmarks such as Union Ch, Bethlehem Ch, and the Free System Cem, providing a detailed record of the mid-century petroleum economy's footprint on rural Texas.