Loading map...

1959 Map of Van Lake

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Van Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Sabine River forms the northern boundary of this 1959 survey, where the border of Smith, Wood, and Van Zandt counties meet. This period in East Texas history is defined by the extensive petroleum infrastructure of the Van Oil Field, which occupies much of the western landscape near the settlement of Van. The map reveals a transition from industrial energy extraction to a rural, water-rich interior characterized by numerous small reservoirs and named creeks.

Community life is centered around rural crossroads and spiritual landmarks like Wisdom Temple, Rock Creek Ch, and Union Chapel. To the east, the settlement of Garden Valley sits near the headwaters of Duck Creek, while the village of Jamestown is positioned near the center of the sheet. Notable water bodies including Van Lake, Campbell Lake, and Garden Lake provide a clear view of the hydrological patterns before modern development altered the region.