1952 Map of Port Mansfield

About this map

Port Mansfield sits at the edge of the Laguna Madre, serving as a vital coastal hub where the Port Mansfield Channel cuts through the shifting landscape to connect the mainland with the Gulf. This 1952 survey, with revisions into the mid-1970s, illustrates a dynamic environment of Shifting Sand Dunes and Sand and Mud flats. The presence of numerous named water sources across the arid coastal plain, such as Dave Dear Well, Palmital Well, and Agua Gorda Well, speaks to the importance of freshwater access for ranching and settlement in this corner of Willacy County. Navigation is a primary theme, with the Intracoastal Waterway and its associated Piling and Light markers threading through Red Fish Bay. The map also captures infrastructure like a Landing Strip and a coastal Pipeline, alongside natural features like El Sauz Island and Fourmile Slough.