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1950 Map of Houston

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

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Houston metropolitan area and the Gulf Coast during the early 1950s show a region defined by its connection to the sea and rapid industrial expansion. Central to this landscape is the nascent highway system, including the Gulf Freeway, and the massive flood control works of the Addicks Reservoir and Barker Reservoir to the west. The maritime economy is anchored by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Texas City Dike, reflecting a period when ports like Galveston, Baytown, and Texas City were vital hubs for petroleum and shipping.

Industrial corridors follow the Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River, while the rail network—featuring the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific lines—connects inland agricultural centers like Rosenberg and Richmond to the coast. The geography of the bay is meticulously detailed, from the Bolivar Peninsula to the Spindletop Marsh in the east, capturing the Texas coast at a pivotal moment of mid-century growth.