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1966 Map of Smiths Bend

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Smiths Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Brazos River carves a massive, looping arc through this Central Texas landscape, defining the boundaries between Hill, Bosque, and McLennan counties. This 1960s survey captures the area just as the Lake Whitney reservoir system influenced the local topography, with the Whitney Dam positioned near Soldiers Bluff. The terrain is marked by dramatic elevation changes at Chalk Bluff and the prominent horseshoe bend that gives Smiths Bend its name.

Local history and genealogy interests are centered on rural settlements like Greenock and Lebanon, each served by its own community burial ground, such as the Lebanon Cem and the Smiths Bend - Coon Creek Cem. The transition from agrarian land use to recreational development is evident in the presence of the Latham Springs Bible Camp and Picnic Area near the riverbanks. Numerous Gravel Pits scattered across the river terraces indicate the small-scale extraction industries active during this period.