1943 Map of Cedar Bayou

About this map

Mont Belvieu and the surrounding coastal prairies of Harris and Chambers Counties are defined by the winding course of Cedar Bayou during the early 1940s. This survey, mapped by the Army Map Service, details a landscape transitioning from rural salt marsh and agriculture toward an industrial future, evidenced by the numerous Oil Wells surrounding Barbers Hill. The map meticulously records the domestic infrastructure of the era, from the Southern Pacific railroad line to local landmarks like the Radio Sta (KTRH) and the Airway Beacon. Local life is anchored by family-named sites such as Fisher Cem and Busch Cem, along with community hubs like the Barbers Hill Sch and Cedar Bayou Sch. The intricate network of irrigation ditches, including the Barbers Hill Canal, illustrates the historical reliance on managed water across these low-lying lands.