1960 Map of Roustabout Camp

About this map

The Trinity River snakes through a landscape defined by its shifting hydrology and industrial camps along the borders of Navarro, Freestone, and Anderson Counties. Named work settlements like Roustabout Camp, Big Camp, and Amerada Camp indicate the petroleum-driven economy of the mid-20th century, supported by a network of pipelines and service roads. The river’s ancient floodplain is a complex of backwaters and seasonal wetlands, including Yonker Slough, Enloe Slough, and Hillside Slough, alongside oxbow remnants such as Snag Lake and Long Lake. This map captures the intersection of industrial development and river bottomlands before modern land-use changes. Local history is anchored by landmarks such as Harp Ch and the prominent river overlooks at Walker Bluff and Cox Bluff. Numerous Sludge Pits and Gravel Pits are scattered near the river, marking the footprint of extraction and infrastructure projects in the post-war era.