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1956 Map of Progreso

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Progreso
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Rio Grande defines the shifting international boundary in this mid-century survey, where complex river bends and oxbow lakes like Lion Lake and Moon Lake mark the landscape. The intricate water management of the Lower Rio Grande Valley is visible through the Main Supply Canal, the Mercedes District Settling Basin, and an extensive network of elevated ditches. Along the river, historical land divisions such as the Horcon Tract and several numbered bancos, including Santa Margarita Banco No 30, reflect the area's unique geopolitical history and river-driven boundary changes.

Civilian life centers on the settlements of Progreso and Relampago, with an inland High Sch and the US Customs Immigration station at Progreso Bend anchoring the border crossing. An Old Railroad Grade cuts through the irrigated fields, while family landmarks like San Pedro Ranch and small cemeteries provide specific points of interest for genealogical research. The presence of the North Floodway and Main Floodway underscores the perennial challenge of controlling the river's flow through this agricultural corridor.