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1917 Map of Ben Bolt

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Ben Bolt
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Large cattle ranches and early industrial infrastructure define this South Texas landscape during the era of military reconnaissance mapping. The ranching economy is evident in the numerous named family holdings such as the Hanson Ranch, Lopez Ranch, and Vilaria Ranch, alongside large grazing tracts like Barregos Pasture. Industrial activity is anchored by a Sugar Mill and vital livestock Shipping Pens, while the hub of Alice serves as a critical junction for regional transportation.

Railroad networks, including the Tex. Mex. R.R. and the San Antonio and Aransas Pass R.R., bisect the territory, connecting isolated ranching outposts to larger markets. Water sources like Trinidad Creek and Santa Gertrudis Creek dictate the placement of settlements and pastures across the Duval and Jim Wells county line. The inclusion of small, localized markers such as a schoolhouse, labeled S.H., provides a glimpse into the community structure of the early 20th-century frontier.