1985 Map of Cotulla

About this map

South Texas brush country and the drainage basins of the Nueces River define this 1985 landscape. The town of Cotulla serves as the regional hub, situated where the Missouri Pacific railroad crosses the river. The map illustrates a transitional period in rural infrastructure, showing the active rail line alongside an Old Railroad Grade near the LaSalle and McMullen county line. Smaller settlements like Asherton, Catarina, and Artesia Wells are connected by a web of ranch roads that navigate a complex network of intermittent streams, including San Roque Creek and Las Raices Creek. The terrain is generally low-lying, punctuated by landmarks such as Piloncillo Hill. This planimetric survey captures the region’s established ranching character and the importance of water management in a semi-arid environment, as evidenced by the numerous named creeks like Dolores Creek and Espejo Creek that feed into the larger Nueces system.