1958 Map of Bland

About this map

Fort Hood Military Reservation dominates the landscape of Bell and Coryell Counties in the late 1950s, showing a massive military landscape characterized by extensive reservation boundaries and rugged topography. The expansive Belton Reservoir fills the eastern portion of the sheet, its waters reaching into the valleys near Bland. This era of development highlights the intersection of federal defense land and civilian recreation, with the Fort Hood Recreation Area situated along the reservoir's banks. Local history is anchored by settlements like Sparta and Union Hill, alongside family landmarks such as Sparta Mountain and Bland Mountain. The map details a transition in the land, where traditional community life—represented by the County Line Community Ch and various creeks like Owl Creek—exists alongside modern infrastructure like a pipeline and aqueduct serving the growing regional needs.