1959 Map of Lake Travis

About this map

Lake Travis and the winding Colorado River dominate this Central Texas landscape at a time of significant transition between rural ranching and suburban expansion. Controlled by the massive Mansfield Dam, the reservoir features numerous sprawling inlets such as the Sandy Creek Arm and Hurst Creek Arm. Smaller settlements and family ranch holdings like Schulze Ranch and Dies Ranch are still prominent across the Jollyville Plateau, while the growing footprint of Austin begins to creep into the southeastern corner. The map documents vital community sites, including the Pond Springs Cem and Jollyville Cem, alongside institutional landmarks like the Camp Mabry Military Res. This survey captures the mid-century character of the Highland Lakes region before later development further altered the canyons and ridges surrounding Lake Austin.