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1961 Map of Sheeks

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Sheeks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Industrial and agricultural development define this landscape on the border of Liberty, Chambers, and Harris counties in the early 1960s. The Esperson Dome Oil Field and the adjacent Gum Bayou Oil Field dominate the central terrain, characterized by a dense network of pipelines and numerous pumping stations. This extraction activity sits alongside an extensive water management system, including the Dayton Canal and Barbers Hill Canal, designed to move water across the low-lying coastal plains.

Rail transport via the Southern Pacific line serves the small settlement of Sheeks, while the Old Spanish Trail provides a primary automotive artery through the region. Of particular interest to local historians is the Flying Service Landing Field located near Esperson, reflecting the era's reliance on aerial support for the expansive oil and ranching operations. The intricate drainage patterns of Hickory Island Gully and Cedar Bayou contrast with the engineered straight lines of the Adlong Ditch.