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1961 Map of Lake Stephenson

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Lake Stephenson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Gordy Marsh and Willow Marsh dominate this coastal landscape at the edge of Trinity Bay and East Bay. This 1961 revision reveals an economy deeply tied to petroleum extraction, featuring the White Lake Oil Field, Mays Oil Field, and Lake Stephenson Oil Field. A complex network of pipelines and unimproved roads connects these operations across the wet terrain, alongside a notable Landing Strip near the marsh's edge.

Smaller water bodies like Lake Surprise and Wallis Lake are found inland, protected by Stephenson Point. Local family history is rooted at the Frankland Cem, located near the intersection of various oil field infrastructure. The boundary between Chambers and Galveston Counties cuts through the marshy expanse, following the natural transition toward the bay. The map provides a clear picture of the mid-century industrial footprint on this segment of the Texas coastline.