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1979 Map of Riviera

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Riviera
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Riviera sits at a critical junction in South Texas, where the Missouri Pacific railroad cuts through the brush country near the Kleberg and Kenedy County line. The settlement pattern here is defined by small, inland water features such as Radicha Lake, Araña Lake, and Seth Waterhole, which supported the region's ranching operations. Numerous family-named windmills, including the Africana Windmill and Rincon de Tio Pancho Windmill, indicate the necessity of groundwater for the livestock economy.

To the east, the small community of Vattmannville is marked by the Vattman Cem, reflecting the area's local history and cultural heritage. The southern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the winding course of Los Olmos Creek, which meanders through a landscape marked by intermittent ponds like Boveda Lake and Hays Lake. This map captures a moment when the rural landscape remained focused on rail transport and livestock, just before shifting modern irrigation and infrastructure expanded.