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1962 Map of Melo

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Melo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad cuts a diagonal line across this South Texas landscape, serving as the primary infrastructure for the cattle and oil interests of the early 1960s. The small settlement of Melo and the nearby Melo Ranch anchor the northern reaches of the map, while large family-held tracts like Bissitt Ranch and Chip Ranch dominate the surrounding acreage. This is a working landscape of drainage and extraction, where numerous Gas Wells and an extensive network of pipelines intersect with the natural flow of Sarco Creek and Martinez Creek.

A notable density of named windmills, including Airfield Windmill and Brahman Windmill, speaks to the critical importance of groundwater for ranching in Goliad County. Genealogists will find the Sarco Cem situated near the intersection of the creek and the rail line, providing a specific point of interest for local family histories. The terrain is marked by distinctive features such as Keys Hollow, which channels runoff toward the complex network of branches and creeks that define the regional geography.