1956 Map of Bay City

About this map

Matagorda Bay and the surrounding coastal lowlands are mapped here during a period of transition for the Texas Gulf Coast. The landscape is defined by its complex hydrology, where the Colorado River meets the sea and the long, thin barrier of the Matagorda Peninsula separates the Gulf of Mexico from the inland waters of East Matagorda Bay. Smaller settlements like Wadsworth and Sargent appear alongside industrial markers such as a Refinery and an Underground pipeline, reflecting the regional significance of the oil and gas industry in the mid-20th century. The intricate network of coastal features, including Brown Cedar Cut and Canoe Bayou, illustrates the shifting shoreline and the wetlands that dominate Matagorda County and Brazoria County before extensive modern development altered the coast.