1919 Map of Swanson

About this map

Warren Ranch sits amidst a network of prairie drainages and low rises in this 1919 survey of the coastal plain northwest of Houston. This preliminary edition, surveyed in cooperation with Harris County, reveals a landscape defined by seasonal watercourses like Cypress Creek and the meandering Bear Creek. The topography is subtle but distinct, featuring the modest elevation of Wolf Hill and numerous depressions across the flats. Evidence of early water management is visible at Freemans Dam in the southeast. Transport is dictated by the regional rail and road corridors, most notably the Southern Pacific System (Houston and Texas Central RR) and the Houston and Hempstead Road, which cut through the northern portion of the sheet. The map provides a detailed look at the boundary between Harris and Waller counties before significant modern development altered the drainage patterns of these prairie lands.