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1956 Map of Rosita Lake

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Rosita Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The boundary between Kenedy Co and Willacy Co defines the transition from the livestock-focused ranches of the north to the irrigated agricultural developments of the south. This coastal South Texas landscape is dominated by a complex network of watering holes and windmills, including the Charco Blanco Windmill and Santo Domingo Windmill, which were essential for maintaining cattle across the dry Sand Dunes. The northern portion is characterized by large private holdings like the Punta del Monte Ranch and San Francisco Ranch.

Irrigation infrastructure appears toward the southern edge near San Perlita, where an Elevated Ditch and the East Main Drain supported the local farming economy. Evidence of past transit is preserved in the Old Railroad Grade running east-west, while natural water features like Rosita Lake and Laguna la Sal punctuate the brush-covered terrain. This map captures the mid-century balance of traditional ranching life and emerging civil engineering in the Rio Grande Valley hinterlands.