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1954 Map of Wright Patman Lake

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Wright Patman Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Wright Patman Lake dominates the center of this landscape at the border of Bowie and Cass Counties, representing a significant mid-century modification of the Sulphur River drainage. The massive Wright Patman Dam and its adjacent Water Intake Tower regulate the reservoir, which submerged portions of the river valley while leaving higher elevations like Bells Island as prominent features. To the northwest, the town of Redwater sits along the St Louis Southwestern Railroad, serving as a focal point for inland settlement away from the new shoreline.

Local history is preserved in rural landmarks such as Opossum Trot Church and Holloway Cem, located north of the dam. The mapping also records older infrastructure such as the McCartney Bridge and the winding course of Elliott Creek. Notable industrial activity is visible through scattered Gravel Pits and an Oil Well, illustrating the diverse land use of this East Texas region during the transition from the 1950s through the mid-1970s.