1951 Map of Portland

About this map

Portland sits at the strategic junction of Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay, defined by the transportation corridors of the Southern Pacific railroad and the Nueces Bay Causeway. This 1951 survey illustrates a coastal landscape shaped by maritime industry and transit, with the deep-water Corpus Christi Ship Channel cutting across the bay and a dedicated Seaplane Restricted Area indicating military or aviation activity in the south. The hydrography reflects the complex underwater topography of the Texas coast, showing numerous hazards and landmarks for mariners such as Indian Reef, Alta Vista Reef, and Donnel Reef. Indian Point serves as the landward anchor for the causeway, marking the narrowest crossing between the bays. The map also records the precise administrative boundaries between Nueces and San Patricio Counties, which split the bay waters and the growing settlement of Portland.