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1957 Map of Orangefield

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Orangefield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Orangefield and the surrounding industrial landscape of Orange County are defined by a dense network of waterways and fossil fuel infrastructure during the mid-1950s. The North Port Neches Oil and Gas Field dominates the southern reaches near Bessie Heights, where Gum Island rises above the marshy wetlands. These lowlands are drained by Cow Bayou and Adams Bayou, which channel toward the Neches River and Sabine River systems.

Rail transport was central to the region's economy, with the Missouri Pacific, Kansas City Southern, and Southern Pacific lines intersecting at small rail stops like Mauriceville and Terry. For genealogists, the map preserves dozens of family landmarks, including the Linscomb Cem, Winfree Ch, and small settlements like Doc Brown and Bland that illustrate the residential pattern of the Texas Gulf Coast before extensive modern expansion.