1943 Map of Beaumont East

About this map

The Spindletop Oil Field dominates the southern landscape, marking the historic center of the Texas oil boom as it stood during the early 1940s. The city of Beaumont anchors the west bank of the Neches River, where a dense urban grid gives way to industrial infrastructure, including the Turning Basin and Harbor Island. The map records a significant educational and civic footprint, identifying Lamar College, South Park High Sch, and French High Sch alongside local recreational spaces like Ida Reed Park and Alice Keith Park. East of the river, the terrain shifts into the wetlands of Smith Island and Star Bayou, crossed by the Southern Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads. This era's transportation network is clearly defined by the Old Spanish Trail and the Beaumont Port Arthur Highway, connecting the city to outlying points like Vidor and the McFadden Ranch.