Loading map...

1952 Map of Potrero Cortado

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Potrero Cortado
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Padre Island stands as a slender barrier against the Gulf of Mexico, separated from the mainland by the shallow expanse of Laguna Madre. This coastal landscape is defined by its shifting sand dunes and mudflats, particularly around the complex of islands known as potreros. Isolated features like the Lopeño Artesian Well and Medanito Well suggest the vital importance of fresh water in this hypersaline environment during the early 1950s.

The development of the Intracoastal Waterway is clearly visible, marked by a linear sequence of Spoil Banks that parallel the mainland shore. This dredging project altered the natural hydrology of the area, including the deep section known as The Hole. The map documents a sparsely populated but distinctively named geography, from Potrero Farias to Potrero Cortado, reflecting the historical ranching or land-grant heritage of Kenedy County.