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1931 Map of High Island

Name: 1931 Topographic Map of High Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1931
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1931

About this map

The coastal salt domes and marshlands of Chambers and Galveston counties are documented here in 1931, based on early aerial photographs taken by the Army Air Corps. The settlement of High Island rises above the surrounding terrain, anchored by the High Island Hotel and served by the Gulf and Colorado Santa Fe railroad line. The map illustrates a landscape dominated by water and shifting coastlines, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the expansive East Bay at the narrow peninsula near Rollover.

Transport and navigation are central to the layout, with the Gilchrist Sta rail stop positioned along the shore southwest of Mussel Point. The intricate drainage system of Elm Bayou, Mud Bayou, and Oyster Bayou reflects the complex hydrology of the Texas Gulf Coast before extensive modern coastal engineering. This survey provides a rare look at the area's early 20th-century footprint, showing the relationship between the singular high ground at Highland 2 and the vital railroad link connecting these remote coastal outposts.