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1956 Map of Santa Maria

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Santa Maria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Meandering loops of the Rio Grande define the international boundary between the United States and Mexico on this mid-century survey. The landscape is characterized by its complex hydrology, featuring numerous abandoned river channels known as bancos, including Pacheco Banco No 117, Soliseno Banco No 23, and Villitas Banco No 24. These horseshoe-shaped water bodies sit alongside an extensive network of irrigation canals, siphons, and pumping stations designed to support the agricultural productivity of the Rio Grande Valley.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground and transport routes, with Santa Maria and Las Rusias serving as primary hubs. Evidence of earlier infrastructure remains visible through the Old Railroad Grade cutting across the terrain. Large-scale water management is anchored by the Adams Gardens Reservoir and the Cameron County District No 1 Reservoir, which contrast with the natural drainage of the Resaca de los Fresnos in the northern portion of the quadrangle.