1984 Map of Votaw

About this map

The Big Thicket National Preserve dominates this portion of the East Texas piney woods, representing a landscape where dense forest meets a complex network of wetlands and waterways. Surveyed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the map highlights the small rural settlements of Votaw and Fuqua, which developed alongside the timber and rail corridors of Hardin and Liberty counties. The hydrology of the area is particularly intricate, defined by the winding course of Pine Island Bayou and its numerous tributaries such as Beaver Creek and Menard Creek. While much of the terrain is characterized by low-lying areas like Wild Cow Marsh, human activity is evident in the scattered clearings and the industrial presence of a Gravel Pit near the center of the sheet. This provisional survey captures the region as conservation efforts were formally protecting the unique biological diversity of the Big Thicket while established communities like Thicket maintained their footprint in the deep woods.