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1956 Map of Tyler

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Tyler
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The East Texas Oil Field dominates this mid-century landscape, illustrating the massive scale of petroleum extraction across Smith County and Gregg County. This era is defined by the proliferation of energy infrastructure, including the Carthage Gas Field and Rodessa Oil Field, which fueled regional growth in hubs like Tyler and Longview. Transport networks are heavily represented by a dense weave of railroads such as the Texas & Pacific RR and the St Louis Southwestern RR, alongside major arteries like US Highway 80.

Significant water management projects are visible, including the newly formed Lake Tawakoni and Lake O' the Pines. Industrial and military sites like the Longhorn Ordnance Works near Marshall provide a snapshot of the strategic importance of East Texas during the Cold War. Smaller communities such as Mineola, Winnsboro, and Gladewater serve as key junctions in this productive resource-driven economy.