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1952 Map of Panther Point

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Panther Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Matagorda Island stretches between the Gulf of Mexico and San Antonio Bay, dominated in the early 1950s by the presence of the Matagorda Island Bombing and Gunnery Range. This military designation shaped the landscape, which is otherwise characterized by sensitive coastal wetlands and interior saltwater bodies like Panther Point Lake and Swan Lake.

A series of scattered windmills are the only signs of structural development on this portion of the island, suggesting a history of cattle ranching or land management that predates or coexists with the military range. The coastline is highly irregular, featuring complex systems like Twin Lakes and Cottonwood Bayou, while the Panther Reef extends into the bay, marking a significant underwater feature for local maritime history.