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1950 Map of Gatesville

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Gatesville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Leon River winds through this mid-century landscape, anchoring the regional hub of Gatesville and defining the corridor for the St Louis Southwestern railroad. The map reveals a transition from the civic and educational infrastructure of the town, including the State Reform School and Scott Airfield, to the expanding military footprint of the Fort Hood Military Reservation. This southern sector is dominated by a complex network of training grounds such as the Gatesville Ranges, Owl Creek Ranges, and an expansive Impact Area.

Rural life persists in the small communities of Mound, Leon Junction, and The Grove. Genealogists will find significant value in the numerous documented burial sites, including Blackfoot Cem, Pleasant Grove Cem, and Coryell Cem. The topography is marked by distinctive elevations such as South Mountain and Bread Tray Mountain, which oversee a landscape of small schools like Hubbard Sch and country churches like Pecan Grove Ch.