1956 Map of Benavides

About this map

The Texas Mexican R. R. serves as the central artery through this South Texas landscape, anchoring the town of Benavides and smaller outposts like Noleda. Surveyed originally by military engineers such as Frederick Herr in 1917, the map documents a transition from cattle ranching to industrial extraction. Local family heritage is deeply embedded in the land, reflected in numerous ranch names like Hoffman Ranch, Stein Ranch, and Santa Leona R.. Industrial development is concentrated near the tracks, where a Lime Quarry, a Shipping Corral, and clusters of oil wells suggest an economy shifting toward regional trade and natural resources. Beyond the settlement centers, the terrain is defined by drainages like Agua Poquita Creek and small rural communities including Guayilla and Flores.