Loading map...

1956 Map of El Jardin

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of El Jardin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Artesian wells and windmills define the remote ranching landscape along the border of Kenedy and Willacy Counties in the mid-1950s. This coastal plain environment, where water security was paramount, features a dense network of naming conventions tied to family and location, such as the San Francisco Artesian Well and the Buena Vista Windmill. The presence of the San Francisco Ranch (Site) and the Plan de Monterrey indicates the historical footprint of early Texas ranching operations before modern infrastructure reached these isolated sections.

The eastern edge of the quadrangle is dominated by shifting sands, noted as Shifting Sand Dunes, which contrast with the drainage and tank systems to the west. Numerous localized water features, including El Jardin Tank and the seasonal Laguna la Sal, illustrate how the terrain was managed for livestock. Man-made interventions like the East Main Drain and a prominent Pipeline cut across the natural labels, marking the mid-century intersection of traditional land use and industrial development.