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1955 Map of La Parra Ranch

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of La Parra Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Artesian wells and shifting dunes define this South Texas landscape along the shores of Baffin Bay. The map reveals a sophisticated ranching infrastructure focused on water access, with family-named sources like Santiago Artesian Well, Mota Negra Artesian Well, and the Santiago Artesian Well scattered across the arid terrain. Large cattle operations center on La Parra Ranch and Los Indios Ranch, separated by miles of private fencing and a network of windmills.

Emerging industrial interests are visible through sites like the Humble Oil Co Hub No 1, highlighting the mid-century transition toward energy extraction in Kenedy County. The coastal edge is marked by Black Bluff and the small settlement at Los Corralos, while the interior features a prominent Rislon Lookout Tower. Geologic data on Shifting Sand Dunes provides a precise record of the moving topography that challenged early settlers and oil wildcatters alike.