1952 Map of Potrero Cortado

About this map

Padre Island and the shallow coastal waters of Kenedy County dominate this 1952 topographic study, revealing the complex barrier system of the Texas coast. The landscape is defined by the Intracoastal Waterway, which cuts a straight path through the Laguna Madre, flanked by a long chain of Spoil Banks. To the west, the mainland edge is characterized by several distinct potreros, or elevated pasture lands, including Potrero Cortado and Potrero Farias. These areas rise above the surrounding Sand and Mud flats, which are subject to occasional inundation based on meteorological conditions. Local water sources are marked by isolated features like the Medanito Well and Lopeno Artesian Well, essential infrastructure in this arid coastal environment. The boundary between the sheltered lagoon and the open Gulf of Mexico is maintained by the shifting dunes and terrain of the barrier island, where features like Cuba Island and The Hole indicate the variable depths of the Laguna.