1953 Map of Smithers Lake

About this map

The industrial and agricultural landscape of Fort Bend County is defined by a complex network of man-made water management systems, including an extensive series of Levee, Ditch, and Siphon features. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts diagonally across the terrain, linking the settlement at Whaley Corner with the activity near Long Point. To the south, the economy is anchored by the Sulphur Field and Oil Field, where Evaporating Ponds dot the area near the Long Point School. Natural water features like Smithers Lake, Worthington Lake, and Big Creek provide a sharp contrast to the geometric irrigation patterns. The map captures a transition period where traditional rural infrastructure, evidenced by numerous windmills and a small Cem, exists alongside large-scale resource extraction and modern hydrologic engineering.