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1952 Map of Panther Point

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Panther Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Matagorda Island serves as a stark barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and San Antonio Bay in this mid-century topographic record. The landscape is defined by its military use as the Matagorda Island Bombing and Gunnery Range, a designation that dominated this stretch of the Texas coast during the Cold War era. Beyond the military boundary, the map details a complex system of coastal lagoons and marshes, including Swan Lake, Panther Point Lake, and the expansive Mud Flat to the northeast.

Hydrological features like Panther Reef and Cottonwood Bayou illustrate the intricate tidal environment of Calhoun County. Scattered Windmill sites across the island hint at earlier or parallel ranching efforts, providing a glimpse into the diverse land use of this isolated coastal stretch before its later transitions. The survey, based on 1952 fieldwork, preserves the exact coastal geometry and interior water bodies such as Cedar Lake and Twin Lakes at a pivotal moment in the island's history.