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1959 Map of Van

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Van
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Van Oil Field dominates this late-1950s landscape, illustrating the industrial infrastructure of East Texas with its extensive Tank Farm and numerous pipelines. Centered on the town of Van, the map captures a transition period where rural community life and heavy industry intersect. Small settlements like Pruitt, Colfax, and Owlett Green are interconnected by a network of roads that wind through the drainage basins of Dry Creek and Grand Saline Creek.

Genealogists and local researchers will find significant value in the documentation of several rural sanctuaries and burial grounds, including East Center Ch, Corinth Ch, and Pike Cem. To the south, the Neches River forms a natural boundary, fed by tributaries like Glade Branch and Pole Branch. The map also preserves the path of an Old Railroad Grade, marking the legacy of transport before the modern road system was fully established.