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1972 Map of Santa Elena SE

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Santa Elena SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The south Texas rangelands in the early 1970s are defined here by a network of water-drawing infrastructure and energy development. This arid landscape, centered where the borders of Brooks, Starr, and Hidalgo counties converge, relies heavily on landmarks like Pita Windmill, Registre Windmill, and Juarez Well to sustain local ranching operations. The terrain is notably marked by Vargas Creek and the low elevations of Las Montas, while the subterranean economy is evident through numerous Oil Wells and a Gas Plant.

A network of pipelines cuts across the brush country, illustrating the industrial footprint on this rural geography. Local family names and traditional identifiers appear throughout the survey, from Sharps Windmill in the north to Conicula Windmill further south. This period captures the region's transition, maintaining traditional livestock water sources while integrating modern oil and gas extraction across the undulating topography of La Mesa.