1984 Map of Magnolia Springs

About this map

Magnolia Springs and Mount Union anchor the eastern upland elevations in this 1978 field-checked landscape along the boundary of Jasper and Tyler counties. The Neches River dictates the region's geography, carving a winding path through the Big Thicket National Preserve. This protected corridor preserves a complex wetland ecosystem, characterized by an intricate network of oxbow lakes and sloughs created by the river's shifting course over time. Notable examples include the deep curves of Hoard Bend and a string of named water bodies such as Old River Lake, Nasty Lake, and Long Lake. To the west, the river creates unique landforms like Ramer Island and feeds into Gum Slough and Turner Branch. Small settlements like River Acres occupy the periphery of the river’s floodplain, illustrating the long-standing relationship between local residents and the river's unpredictable drainage patterns through the piney woods of East Texas.