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1922 Map of La Sal Vieja

Name: 1922 Topographic Map of La Sal Vieja
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1922
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1922

About this map

Large saltwater lakes known as La Sal Vieja dominate the lower half of this landscape in the South Texas brush country. Surveyed shortly after the end of World War I, the map illustrates an era of sprawling livestock operations and early rail development across the sandy plains. The St Louis Brownsville and Mexico railroad cuts a north-south line through the eastern territory, supporting small settlements and shipping points like Yturria and Rudolph.

Detailed ranching footprints are a primary feature of this 1922 edition, marking the locations of family-held territories such as Andres Ranch, San Jose de los Llanitos Ranch, and La Sal Ranch. These outposts were critical hubs in a region defined by its isolation and the convergence of county lines, where Hidalgo, Kenedy, and Willacy counties meet. The presence of numerous small ponds and depressions surrounding the primary salt lakes suggests a highly variable hydrological environment used for watering stock.