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1957 Map of Mc Allen

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Mc Allen
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Rio Grande valley at the dawn of the 1960s reveals a landscape defined by shifting borders and industrial growth. Along the river, a chain of settlements including Rio Grande City, Mission, and McAllen follows the path of the Missouri Pacific railroad, reflecting the agricultural and transit importance of the corridor. To the west, the recently formed Falcon Reservoir has reshaped the terrain near Falcon Heights and Zapata, while the interior is densely marked with oil and gas wells, particularly around the Colorado Oil Field.

The presence of Moore Air Force Base and the Zapata Aircraft Control and Warning Station underscores the Cold War military footprint in South Texas. Beyond the urban centers of Edinburg and Pharr, the map captures specialized sites like the Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge and the Brewster School (Abandoned), providing genealogists and historians with a precise record of local landmarks and educational facilities from the mid-century era.