1952 Map of Green Island

About this map

Green Island (Bird Sanctuary) serves as a focal point within the expansive Laguna Madre, where the coastal environment remains largely defined by natural boundaries and maritime navigation. Surveyed in the early 1950s, this area captures a landscape of transition between the mainland and the barrier islands. The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a precise path through the western reaches, flanked by numerous Spoil Banks and navigational lights. To the east, the Padre Island National Seashore is marked by Shifting Sand Dunes, while the southwest corner includes a portion of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. The map illustrates a complex system of Sand and Mud Flats and tide-dependent shorelines, revealing the raw coastal geography of Willacy and Cameron counties before significant modern development altered these shores.