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1956 Map of Rio Hondo

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Rio Hondo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

The winding Arroyo Colorado and the serpentine Resaca De Los Fresnos dominate this landscape, illustrating the intricate drainage and irrigation systems of the Rio Grande Valley. In the mid-1950s, Rio Hondo serves as a central hub for the surrounding agricultural tracts, supported by industrial features like the Oil Tanks and Port Harlingen. The mapping captures the transition from rail-dependent transport to highway travel, evidenced by an Old Railroad Grade and the established network of ranch roads and highways.

Further south, the expansion of San Benito is clearly visible, featuring essential community landmarks such as the Dolly Vinsant Hospital, Doctor Cash Sch, and the Municipal Airport. Smaller settlements like Lozano, Lantana, and Las Yescas dot the plains, many defined by their proximity to the resacas. For genealogists and local historians, the map provides precise locations for the Monte Meta Cemetery and rural school sites like Downs Sch, which served the outlying farming families of Cameron County.