1951 Map of Bay City

About this map

Bay City serves as the inland anchor for this coastal Texas survey, which captures the complex hydrologic and industrial landscape of the mid-20th century Gulf Coast. The transition from agricultural reaches along Caney Creek to the industrial centers of Freeport and Velasco is evident, highlighted by the presence of a Refinery near the mouth of the Brazos River. Transport networks are vital here, with the St L B & M railroad connecting small communities like Wadsworth and Rymers to the larger markets, while the Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight path behind the protective Matagorda Peninsula. For the genealogist or local historian, the map preserves the location of many smaller settlements such as Hawkinsville, Sargent, and Mangun, as well as numerous coastal water bodies like Lake Austin and Cedar Lake that define the regional geography.