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1952 Map of St. Charles Bay SW

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of St. Charles Bay SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Goose Island State Park anchor this coastal survey, documenting a dynamic intersection of protected wetlands and industrial infrastructure in the early 1950s. The landscape is defined by the Intracoastal Waterway, a critical navigation artery cut through Aransas Bay to facilitate maritime commerce. Extensive Mud Flats and intricate shell features like Halfmoon Reef and Long Reef characterize the shallow waters surrounding Joseph Island.

Evidence of mid-century petroleum exploration is visible through several Oil Wells and a Gas Well near the northern shorelines. The topography reflects a low-lying estuarine environment where Vinson Slough and Spalding Cove provide complex habitats for local wildlife. This mapping captures the Texas coast after World War II, just as the balance between conservation areas and the burgeoning oil and gas industry was becoming firmly established.