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1954 Map of Mathis

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Mathis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Nueces River forms a sprawling waterway in this mid-century survey, pooling into the northern reaches of Corpus Christi Lake. This hydraulic landscape is defined by the intersection of water management and petroleum extraction, with the Lake Corpus Christi State Park occupying the western shoreline while the Wilman Oil Field and Ganda Oil Field pockmark the surrounding plains. The town of Mathis serves as the regional hub, situated at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and Texas and New Orleans railroads.

Rural life in the 1950s is evidenced by several family-named landmarks and small settlements like Swinney Switch and La Fruta. Genealogists may find value in the scattered burial sites, including the Waitheim Cem and Sandia Cem. The terrain is characterized by deep drainages such as Mustang Hollow and Chiltipin Bayou, which cut through the caliche-rich soil. Industrial presence is further marked by a series of Caliche Pits and a Drive-in Theater located just north of the Mathis town center.