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1947 Map of Purmela

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Purmela
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Leon River and its winding tributaries, including Cowhouse Creek and Beehouse Creek, define the landscape of Coryell County in the late 1940s. Centered on rural communities like Purmela, Arnett, and Pidcoke, the map reveals a post-war countryside still deeply rooted in local networks of country schools and family churches. The presence of the Purnela Sch and South Purmela Sch suggests a decentralized educational system typical of the era before larger district consolidations.

A significant portion of the southeastern quadrant is occupied by the Fort Hood Military Reservation, where the terrain transitions into the Shell Mountains and Manning Mountains. Landmarks such as Royalty Ridge and Stampede Mountain overlook the Impact Area, marking a clear boundary between civilian homesteads and the expanding federal defense footprint. Genealogists will find notable value in the numerous burial grounds, such as Slater Cem, White Cem, and Pidcoke Cem, which anchor the history of these small settlements.