Loading map...

1954 Map of San Antonio

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of San Antonio
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Balcones Escarpment serves as a dramatic geological divide on this mid-century survey, separating the high Edwards Plateau from the fertile plains of South Texas. At the center of this landscape, San Antonio appears as a burgeoning hub of military and aviation infrastructure. The city is surrounded by a formidable ring of installations, including Fort Sam Houston (Army), Kelly AFB, Lackland AFB, and Brooks AFB. To the northeast, Randolph AFB and the Camp Bullis Military Reservation further underscore the area's strategic importance during the Cold War era.

Water management and recreation are evident in the northern reaches, where the Guadalupe River feeds the newly established Canyon Reservoir. Rail corridors of the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific lines radiate from the city, connecting outlying settlements like Hondo, New Braunfels, and Uvalde. The map also captures several smaller aviation landmarks, such as Stinson Field and the Clear Springs AAF (Inactive), reflecting the region's deep ties to flight history.