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1952 Map of Matagorda

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Matagorda
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The coastal village of Matagorda serves as the focal point for this early 1950s survey, positioned where the Colorado River meets the Texas coast. The town’s grid is clearly defined, with the Matagorda Cem on the northern outskirts and the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad terminating near the waterfront. A Pontoon Bridge provides a vital crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway, connecting the mainland to the sprawling marshlands and islands of the delta.

The landscape is dominated by a complex network of bayous and brackish lakes, including Gottschalk Lake and McNab Lake. To the south, the Matagorda Peninsula creates a narrow barrier between East Matagorda Bay and the open Gulf of Mexico. The map details various river islands like Selkirk Island and Wild Cow Island, illustrating the shifting geography of the river's path before modern coastal developments significantly altered these wetlands.