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1952 Map of East Columbia

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of East Columbia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The Brazos River carves a deep, winding path through this Brazoria County landscape, defining the character of East Columbia and its surrounding wetlands. In the early 1950s, the area was undergoing significant hydrological changes, most notably seen at Mann Lake, where a proposed water level of 33 feet is recorded during its development. This transition from natural bayous like Oyster Bayou and Dry Bayou to managed reservoirs is further evidenced by the Harris Reservoir and the Pumping Station to the north.

Local history and genealogy are anchored by rural centers of worship and burial, including Mt Zion Ch near the fish hatchery and Munson Cem located south of the Missouri Pacific railroad line. The map also captures the early oil footprint in the region, with scattered Oil Wells situated between Long Pond and Blue Lake, illustrating the intersection of the river-basin ecosystem with the mid-century petroleum industry.