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1943 Map of Clifton By The Sea

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Clifton By The Sea
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Galveston Bay dominates this coastal landscape as it appeared in the early 1940s, showing the early recreational and industrial footprint along the western shore. The waterfront is dotted with small residential developments like El Jardin Del Mar, Surf Oaks, and the resort community of Clifton by the Sea. Inland, the Southern Pacific railroad provides the backbone for transport, connecting the higher ground of Red Bluff to the established grid of San Leon further south.

Genealogists may find interest in localized landmarks such as the Harris Cem and Seabrook Cem, which sit just west of the bay's edge. The maritime economy of the era is evident through the deep Houston Ship Channel and various navigational markers, while the southeastern corner reveals offshore activity near Red Fish Reef with an Observation Platform Oil Wells. The map captures the transition of this shoreline from rural cattle land and small fishing docks like Clifton Dock toward more organized bayside settlements.