1958 Map of Palo Pinto

About this map

The Brazos River meanders in tight, dramatic oxbows through this North Texas landscape, defining the terrain as it flows into the newly formed Possum Kingdom Lake. This late 1950s survey documents the area shortly after the completion of the Morris Sheppard Dam, showing how the impounded waters reshaped the canyons and created new landmarks like Bloodweed Island and Costello Island. The map records a transition between traditional ranching and petroleum development, evidenced by the Floyd Dalton Oil Field and the Belding Ranch. Local heritage is preserved through family names attached to the landscape, from Mc Adams Cem and Lukingdom Ch to the scout camps at Camp Constantin and Worth Ranch. From the county seat at Palo Pinto to the town of Graford, the map captures the rural life and geography of the Palo Pinto Mountains.