1985 Map of Austin

About this map

The Colorado River carves through this Central Texas landscape as the mid-1980s urban expansion begins to bridge the gap between Austin and its northern neighbor Round Rock. This survey highlights a critical period of infrastructure, showing the sprawling footprint of Bergstrom Air Force Base south of the city and the established residential enclaves of West Lake Hills and Rollingwood. To the west, the dammed waters of Lake Travis and Lake Austin define the edge of the Balcones Escarpment, while the eastern plains are characterized by a network of smaller agricultural communities like New Sweden, Cele, and Manda. The map provides a clear look at the region's rail heritage, featuring the Missouri Pacific RR and Southern Pacific RR corridors that helped shape these settlements. Further east, the Camp Swift Military Reservation and the loblolly pines of Bastrop State Park anchor the terrain before it reaches the Lee County line.