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2016 Map of Pierce

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Pierce
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The agricultural plains of Wharton County are defined here by a sophisticated network of irrigation and water management, centered around the settlement of Pierce and the eastern edge of El Campo. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling Pierce Ranch Rd lands, where the Pierce Canal and numerous drainage features like Mud Creek and Blue Creek support the region's intensive farming operations. The influence of the ranching legacy is evident in the naming of local thoroughfares such as Barrio Rd and Live Oak Rd.

Water storage for crop irrigation is anchored by Roach Reservoir and the Twin Basin, which feed into the natural flow of the Tres Palacios River. Aviation infrastructure supporting the local farming economy is represented by the Tradewind Ag Airport, while a rigid grid of county roads, including FM 1162, provides access across this coastal prairie terrain. The map captures a moment in the modern era where traditional ranching roots intersect with large-scale 21st-century agribusiness.