1952 Map of Cedar Lakes West

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway dominates this coastal landscape, cutting a straight industrial line between the marshy mainland and the shifting shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the Brazoria and Matagorda County line, the map documents a transition in the mid-20th-century Texas coast where natural drainage like Cedar Lake Creek and Cockburn Slough meets the engineered precision of the canal system. The presence of several Oil Wells and numerous Windmills suggests a landscape shared by energy extraction and cattle ranching. A Pontoon Bridge provides a vital crossing over the Dead Caney Lake inlet, reflecting the local infrastructure required to navigate the bayous and estuaries. The sheet also captures the extensive tidal flats and shallow waters of Cowtrap Lake and the Cedar Lakes, where human impact is visible through the deposition of several Spoil Banks alongside the shipping channel.