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1959 Map of Manvel

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Manvel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Manvel Oil Field and the nearby Hastings Oil Field dominate the northern landscape of this Brazoria County coastal plain, reflecting the region's mid-century petroleum development. The intersection of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad with early thoroughfares like Old Manvel Road and Rifle Range Road anchors the small settlement of Manvel, which served as a rural center for surrounding ranches and oil workers. Further southeast, the town of Alvin shows significant expansion through the mid-1970s, with urban revisions highlighting its growth toward South Park and the Alvin Airpark.

The coastal drainage system is meticulously documented, showing how Mustang Bayou and Chocolate Bayou wind through a landscape increasingly managed by the American Canal and Briscoe Canal. These water management features, including various siphons and ditches, underscore the transition from natural prairie to an engineered agricultural and industrial environment. Local history is preserved in the location of the Manvel Cem and Booth Cem, as well as the Consolidated Schools serving the growing population centers.