1955 Map of La Leona

About this map

The lowlands of the South Texas coast are defined by the intricate waterways of Arroyo Colorado and the expansive wetlands of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. This landscape, documented through 1955 with revisions from 1970, reveals a region heavily shaped by water management and ranching. The North Floodway and Pilot Channel dominate the northern terrain, indicating the importance of flood control for the surrounding coastal prairie. Local life centers on named ranching outposts such as Los Coyotes Ranch, Miradores Ranch, and Rancho Nuevo, while the small settlement of La Leona serves as a local hub near the La Leona Cem. The transition from land to the hypersaline lagoon is marked by the Cayo Atascoso and numerous inland tanks like Negro Tank and Chico Tank, which sustained livestock in this semi-arid environment.