1959 Map of Clay

About this map

The Brazos River creates a serpentine border between Burleson, Washington, and Brazos Counties, defining the agricultural and industrial character of the region. The settlement of Clay serves as a local hub, situated near the confluence of several major rail lines including the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific. The landscape is marked by the shifting path of the river, evidenced by the Old River channel and the pronounced Big Bend meander. Local industry is visible through multiple extraction sites like the Clay Pit and various gravel pits. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of several burial grounds, including Botts Ferry Cem, Clay Cem, and Thomas Cem. The presence of Clay Lake and Tennessee Lake further illustrates the complex hydrology of the river bottomlands during the late 1950s.