1957 Map of Riesel

About this map

Riesel and the surrounding agricultural lands of McLennan and Falls counties are defined by a complex network of rail and water in the late 1950s. The Texas and New Orleans and Missouri Kansas and Texas railroads intersect the landscape, supporting the area's rural economy near the Blackland Experimental Watershed. To the west, the Lake Creek Lake reservoir and the winding Brazos River dominate the topography, with a prominent Powerhouse located near the lake's edge. The map reveals a deeply rooted community structure, evidenced by numerous rural institutions such as Springhill Ch, Sunset Sch, and Hebron Sch. These sites, along with several family and community burial grounds like Friedens Cem and Nazare Cem, offer significant details for researchers tracing the mid-century settlement patterns and social geography of this Central Texas region.