1968 Map of Crane Islands SW

About this map

Padre Island spans the length of this survey, dividing the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the shallow reaches of Laguna Madre. The map captures the delicate topography of the barrier island during the late 1960s and mid-1970s, documented through shifting sand elevations that reach up to 34 feet. Human development is concentrated near the north, where Packery Channel cuts through to the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway facilitates maritime transit. Revisions from 1975 show expanding canal-front residential footprints near the County Park, contrasting with the more primitive southern stretches of the Padre Island National Seashore. Key navigational markers like Range A Light and leisure landmarks such as Bob Hall Pier reflect the island’s dual role as a critical coastal transit point and a growing recreational destination along the Nueces and Kleberg county line.