Loading map...

1954 Map of Riviera

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Riviera
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Kingsville Naval Air Station anchors the northern portion of this South Texas coastal plain, revealing the significant military presence in Kleberg County during the mid-1950s. The landscape is a mosaic of sprawling cattle traps and ranching operations, such as the Santa Cruz Trap and Monte Verde Trap, defined by an extensive network of fences and family-named windmills like Libertad Windmill and Banqueros Windmill. These water sources were vital for the region's livestock economy, appearing alongside industrial developments like the Borregos Oil Field and numerous scattered Oil Wells.

Educational and civic life is centered around the Texas and Mexican Industrial Institute and smaller settlements like Ricardo and Riviera. The infrastructure of the era is clearly visible through the Missouri Pacific railroad line and an Old Railroad Grade that cuts through the brushland. Unusual features such as the FCC Monitoring Station and multiple inactive naval auxiliary fields indicate the area's strategic utility beyond agriculture. Drainage is primarily defined by the seasonal flows of Santa Gertrudis Creek and Escondido Creek, which meander toward the Laguna de los Olmos.