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1955 Map of Saragosa

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Saragosa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The deep pine woods of the Big Thicket region are defined by the convergence of Hardin Co and Polk Co, where the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad cuts through a landscape of baygalls and slow-moving sloughs. In the mid-1950s, the extraction economy of Southeast Texas is clearly visible through the extensive Batson Oil Field and Saratoga Oil Field, which anchor the southern settlements. The transition from timber to petroleum is marked by vestiges like the Old Tram and Thicket Siding, while local genealogy is preserved at several family and community burial sites, including Sutton Cem and Felps Cem.

The hydrography of the area is exceptionally detailed, showing the intricate network of Pine Island Bayou and its numerous tributaries like Arizona Creek and Meetinghouse Branch. Distinctive local landmarks such as the Votaw Lookout Tower and named burnouts like Dunnie Burnout provide a sense of the managed forest environment that surrounds the small rural communities of Votaw, Thicket, and Bragg.