{"product_id":"old-map-of-possum-kingdom-lake-texas-by-usgs-1931-brazos-river-graham-breckenridge","title":"Old Map of Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas by USGS, 1931 – Brazos River, Graham \u0026 Breckenridge","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1931 by the United States Geological Survey, “Ivan” presents a finely measured portrait of north-central Texas at the 1:62,500 scale. The map captures the Brazos River country associated today with Possum Kingdom Lake, recording the ridges, valleys, roads, settlements, and drainage patterns that shaped the region’s early twentieth-century landscape. Its title, spare and precise in the USGS manner, anchors the sheet to Ivan, Texas, while the wider composition extends into a terrain of ranching country, river corridors, and developing transportation routes. As a historical topographical document, it offers more than orientation: it preserves a moment before later changes to shorelines, infrastructure, land ownership, and recreational development altered the character of this memorable Texas setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey brought to this map the authority and discipline that made its quadrangles indispensable to engineers, landowners, geologists, planners, and travelers. Founded in 1879, the USGS was charged with systematically describing the physical geography and natural resources of the United States, and its maps became the visual language of modern American terrain. In “Ivan,” that institutional rigor appears in carefully drawn contour lines, measured elevations, watercourses, and road networks. The result is not decorative excess but an elegant economy of information: every line has purpose, every symbol contributes to an understanding of landform and use. For collectors, this makes the map especially appealing, combining scientific precision with the quiet beauty of early federal cartography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most compelling geographic presence is the Brazos River system, whose valleys and tributaries define the map’s structure. This is the landscape in which Possum Kingdom Lake would become one of Texas’s notable reservoirs and recreation areas, making the sheet especially valuable for comparing the region before and after major water-management development. The contours reveal how the river cut through resistant terrain, creating steep slopes, ridgelines, draws, and sheltered lowlands. These details speak to the practical realities of settlement and movement: roads followed easier grades, communities formed near water and crossings, and ranchland adapted to the relief. Seen today, the map reads as both a survey and a prophecy of transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNearby place names such as Graham, Breckenridge, Caddo, and Parker County connect the map to a broader regional history of frontier settlement, ranching, agriculture, and resource development. Graham, a county-seat town with nineteenth-century roots, served as a commercial and civic center for the surrounding country. Breckenridge, tied closely to the Texas oil boom of the early twentieth century, evokes a different rhythm of growth, industry, and speculation. Caddo recalls older layers of occupation and naming in the area, while the roadways threading through the quadrangle show how communities were linked before the dominance of modern highways. Together, these names and routes give the map a human dimension, setting lived places within an exacting topographic framework.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCartographically, “Ivan” exemplifies the clarity of USGS topographic design: contour intervals articulate elevation, color gradation distinguishes terrain and hydrography, and standardized symbols make roads, settlements, streams, and relief immediately legible. The map’s beauty lies in this union of restraint and density. Ridges and valleys emerge almost sculpturally from the pattern of contours, while water bodies and drainage lines provide a visual counterpoint to the dry uplands of the Texas interior. As a historical record, it documents geographical knowledge and land use as understood in 1931, before decades of shoreline modification, infrastructure expansion, and recreational development reshaped the area. It is a refined and evocative window into the making of modern Texas landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePossum Kingdom Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrazos River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraham\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBreckenridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaddo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParker County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious roadways encompassing the area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearby valleys and elevations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdditional bodies of water displayed in the region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical topographical map is dated 1931.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map is drawn at a scale of 1:62,500.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe USGS is known for creating accurate and detailed maps for surveying and understanding the geography of the United States.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses contour lines and color gradation to represent topography, elevation changes, and landforms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTerrain details include ridges, valleys, and water bodies characteristic of this region of Texas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map reflects geographical knowledge and land use in the early 20th century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt provides historical insight into how development and environmental management in Texas have evolved over time, including changes to shorelines, infrastructure, and land ownership.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58849379123584,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58849379156352,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58849379189120,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58849379221888,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58849379254656,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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