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Subject Authority List

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These are terms used as subject headings under the geographic entries. A brief explanation relating to the term's usage is given, along with alternate and related headings. The word "sites" refers to the subject being shown as a site on a map.

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  • accident sites (industrial accidents, oil rig accidents, EPA accident sites)
  • aerial photographed areas
  • agriculture laboratories, USDA (sites)
  • agriculture products (sites of production, may also show distribution of product)
    use also specific products (cotton); crop production
  • airline routes
    use also the proper name of airline
  • airports (sites)
  • approaches (refers to works for the protection of troops besieging a fortified position)
  • archaeological sites (no usage yet, may appear on more modern maps,
    esp. Historical Commission maps)
    use ruins; shipwrecks
  • army posts
    use military posts; cavalry posts; the proper name of the post
  • arsenals (sites)
  • atlas (may be an atlas of the world or a sheet in an atlas of a country
    or state, such as Texas)

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  • battlegrounds (sites)
    use also proper names of battlegrounds; Indian battlegrounds
  • battlegrounds, plan (layout of the battleground)
    use under the proper names of battlegrounds
  • bays
    use proper names of bays; Texas, coast; Gulf Coast
  • bird's eye view (almost an overhead view, usually of a city or town)
  • boundaries
    use also Texas-Oklahoma boundary dispute
    use also under specific geographic locations
  • bridges, steel (one usage) (only used for a detailed map of a specific bridge)
  • buffalo herds (sites of, in the 1800s)
  • bus routes (denotes routes or bus lines, generally within cities)

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  • camps (sites of military camps)
    use also proper names of camps
  • camps, plan
    use under the proper names of camps
  • camps, recreational (modern day sites)
  • canals cattle and calf production (sites of production) cattle brands
    (refers to brands used in a designated area)
  • cattle distribution
  • cattle trails (routes of cattle drives in the late 1800s) use also proper names of trails
  • cavalry posts (sites)
  • cemeteries (sites)
  • cemeteries, plans
    use under the proper name of cemetery
  • Civil War for specific battles,
    use the proper name of the battle
  • climatic regions (weather regions)
  • colonies
    use also the proper names of colonies; military colonies
  • commerce, lines of (routes of commerce trade, 1800s)
  • communication lines (lines or routes of communication, 1800s)
  • Confederate states (Civil war era)
  • Confederate troops (Civil war) for specific troop movements,
    use the name of the commander
  • Confederate works (Confederate defenses)
  • congressional districts (U.S. Congressional districts)
  • conservation and reclamation districts (water control districts, post 1900)
    use also water control authorities; proper name of district
  • contour map (focuses on contour lines, with none or few other features)
    use also topographic map
  • copper mines (sites)
  • cotton production (sites of production, may also show distribution of cotton)
  • counties (generally used when focus of map is on the distribution or
    production of something (eg., population, agricultural or mineral product) within the counties.
  • counties, defunct (counties no longer in existence)
  • counties, outline map (maps focusing on county boundaries)
  • counties, precincts (local precincts within counties)
  • crop land (sites)
  • crop land, failure of
  • crop land, reduction of
  • crop production
    use also agricultural products; specific types of crops (cotton)

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  • dams (sites)
  • dams, existing and proposed (sites)
  • dams, proposed (sites)
  • deaths (statistical usage, usually showing distribution, often by specific causes)
  • defenses (military)
  • defunct counties
    use counties, defunct
  • departments (political divisions of Texas during Spanish and Mexican rule,
    1700's - early 1800's)
  • drainage systems (shows areas receiving drainage from river systems,
    or rivers making up a particular drainage system)
  • dry farming region (type of farming region, usually refers to parts of the panhandle)
  • dumping grounds, EPA approved (sites) easements (rights-of-way)

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  • education districts (sites)
    use also school districts electric generating capacity (of power plants)
  • electric power systems (power plants or other components of
    a single operating system, eg. LCRA)
  • empresario land grants
    use land grants
  • erosion survey (shows areas subject to erosion, or perhaps,
    to what degree of erosion areas are subject to)
  • evaporation stations (type of gauging station used to measure evaporation)
  • explorers, routes of expeditions
    use also the proper names of explorers farming areas
    use also dry farming region

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  • fish hatcheries (places where fish are bred, usually state or U.S. operated)
  • flood control works (show measures taken to prevent or control flooding)
  • forested areas (denotes forested regions)
  • forests (sites)
    use also proper names of forests
  • forests, plans,
    use under the proper name of the forest
  • forts (sites)
    use also proper names of forts
  • forts, plans (layout of the fort)
    use under the proper names of forts
  • freight truck routes (routes of freight trucks)
    use also truck routes

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  • game preserves (sites, usually outlined on maps, as opposed to a dot on a map)
  • gas deposits (sites)
  • gas fields (sites)
    use also proper names fields (for more detail of fields,
    use the proper names of fields)
  • gas leases
    use leases, oil, gas, and mineral
  • gas pipelines (shows routes of pipelines)
    use also oil or gas pipelines; pipelines
  • gas production (sites)
  • gas wells (sites)
    use also oil or gas wells
  • gauging stations (sites)
    use also river gauging stations; evaporation stations
  • general map (shows general features of the time period)
  • geologic map (focuses on geologic features, such as rock formations)
  • geologic map, vertical section geopressure zones ghost counties
    use counties, defunct
  • ghost towns (sites)
  • gold deposits (sites)
  • gold districts (sites)
  • grasslands reserve (sites)
  • growing season, average (found on weather maps)
  • Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (formerly the Intracoastal Waterway,
    showing up as the GIW in the late 1920s - 1930s)
  • gunnery and bombing ranges (military)

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  • highway districts (districts set up by the State Highway Department)
  • highway map (focus is on roads and highways)
  • highways (routes of)
  • highways, federal aid system (highways receiving federal aid)
  • historic map (show features of an earlier time period, usually with
    explanatory notes and/or drawings)
  • hurricanes (paths of)
  • hydraulic map (concerns rivers and hydraulic measures taken)
  • hydrologic maps (concerns bodies of water, usually bays and oceans,
    could possibly refer to types of river studies)
    use nautical charts; river basins or watersheds following the
    name of the river, eg. Red River basin, Colorado River watershed

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  • Indian agencies (sites, generally outlined)
  • Indian battlegrounds (sites of Indian/non-Indian battles)
  • Indian districts (sites, generally outlined)
  • Indian hunting grounds (sites)
  • Indian lands, leased (sites)
  • Indian mounds, prehistoric (sites)
  • Indian nations (sites)
  • Indian reservations (sites)
    use also tribal names
  • Indian trails (routes used by Indians)
    use also tribal names
  • Indian villages (sites)
    use also tribal names
  • Indians (sites of territory frequented by tribes)
    use also tribal names
  • intendencias (Spanish political divisions, 1700s)
  • Intracoastal Canal (later became the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway,
    showing up as the GIW in the late 1920s - 1930s)
  • iron ore deposits (sites)
  • irrigated areas (sites) irrigation districts (water control districts, post 1900)
    use also water and irrigation districts; water control authorities;
    proper names of districts
  • irrigation plan, proposed
  • irrigation projects, proposed
  • irrigation systems

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  • kilovolt lines
  • land contracts
    use land grants
  • land districts (divisions used by the General Land Office)
  • land grants (original grants of land assigned to settlers by the
    Mexican and/or Texas governments)
  • land management activities (modern day usage, refers to variety of
    land uses, eg. recreational)
  • land use, classifications (refers to varieties of land use,
    eg. recreational, agricultural)
  • land use, classifications, by counties (focus is on usage within counties.
    Used as a subheading under Texas)
  • land use, problem areas (refers to areas in need of improvement,
    eg. reclamation or drainage)
  • land, value per acre
  • lead mines (sites)
  • leases (shows the areas covered the lease)
  • leases, oil, gas, and mineral (shows the areas covered by the lease,
    often including oil or gas wells and fields)
  • levees, proposed system of (sites)
  • lighthouses (sites)
  • lignite deposits (sites)
  • lignite mines (sites)
  • livestock (could refer to the production and or distribution of)
    use also types of animals, eg. cattle

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  • mail routes
    use also proper names of routes; pony express routes; parcel post map
  • military bases (sites)
    use also proper names of base
  • military campaigns (area of military operations)
    use also military reconnaissance; military expeditions
  • military colonies
  • military departments (military divisions)
  • military detachments (troops dispatched for a special duty or mission)
  • military expeditions (routes of military troops, usually to or from areas of operations,
    often of a specific unit)
    use also under names of military commanders;
    use also military campaigns; military reconnaissance; military routes
  • military posts
    use also cavalry posts
  • military reconnaissance (routes of military survey expeditions)
    use also military expeditions; military routes
  • military reservations
    use also military bases; military installations
  • military routes (routes used during times of war, often refers to individual routes)
    use also military campaigns; military expeditions; military reconnaissance
  • militia beats (precincts for militia units)
  • mineral deposits (sites and/or distribution of)
    use also specific types of minerals, eg. basalt
  • mineral industry plants (sites and/or distribution of)
  • mineral leases (shows area, usually including oil and gas fields or wells,
    covered by lease)
    use also leases, oil, gas, and mineral
  • mineral products (sites and/or distribution of)
    use also specific types of minerals, eg. basalt
  • mineral regions (areas minerals are found in)
  • minerals
    use also specific types of minerals, eg. basalt
  • minerals, industrial, distribution
  • minerals, industrial, distribution, by county (used as subheading under Texas)
  • minerals, production (sites and/or distribution of)
    use also specific types of minerals, eg. basalt
  • minerals, production, by county (site and or distribution of.
    Used as subheading under Texas)
  • mines (sites)
    use also specific types of mines, eg. gold mines
  • mines or quarries (sites of one or the other)
    use also mines; specific types of mines; quarries
  • missions (sites)
    use also proper names of missions
  • missions, plans (layout of the mission)
    use under proper names of missions
  • missions, ruins of (sites)
  • moisture zones (weather related division

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  • national farm security projects (sites)
  • native vegetation (sites)
  • nautical charts (focus is on features relating to the Gulf or oceans,
    generally used in navigation)
  • naval reservations (sites)
    use also military bases
  • navigation channels (sites)

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  • oceanographic map (modern day term, focusing on features
    relating to the oceans--somewhat different features than found on nautical charts)
  • offshore platforms (generally refers to oil production platforms off the coast)
    oil and gas map (focus is on typical oil/gas features--wells, fields, and pipelines)
  • oil basins (large areas of oil deposits, often showing oil production in the basin)
    use also proper name of basin
  • oil deposits (sites)
    use also oil basins; oil pools
  • oil fields (sites)
    use also proper name of fields (for more detail of fields,
    use the proper name of the field)
  • oil leases (shows area covered by lease, usually including oil fields and wells)
    use also leases, oil, gas, or mineral
  • oil or gas pipelines (shows routes of pipelines)
    use also oil pipelines; gas pipelines; petroleum pipelines; pipelines
  • oil or gas wells (sites)
    use also oil wells; gas wells
  • oil pipelines (routes of)
    use also oil or gas pipelines; pipelines
  • oil pools (sites)
    use also oil basins; oil deposits
  • oil production (sites of)
  • oil wells (sites of)
    use also oil or gas wells
  • old age recipients, distribution of
  • operations (military actions or campaigns)
  • outline map (shows the boundaries of areas, usually political divisons,
    eg. counties, but nothing or little else)
  • ownership map (focus is on the land owners, could be confused with a survey map)
  • oyster leases (sites)

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  • parcel post map (routes)
    use also mail routes
  • parks (sites)
    use also proper names of parks
  • parks, historical (sites)
  • parks, plans (layout of the park)
    use under the proper name of the park
  • petroleum pipelines (routes of)
    use also oil pipelines; pipelines
  • petroleum refineries (sites)
  • physiography (natural features, eg. land formation, climate, flora, fauna)
  • pictorial map (depicts a theme using drawings, perhaps with
    some explanatory notes, may be confused with an historical map,
    usually more decorative than useful)
  • pipelines (routes of)
    use also gas pipelines; oil pipelines; oil or gas pipelines; petroleum pipelines
  • plan (a map of the layout of a facility or area, generally forts, military bases,
    battlegrounds, showing buildings, troops, and artillery)
  • planning boards (sites of counties, cities having these)
  • plat (map of the layout of an area, generally towns or parts of a city or town,
    such as a subdivision, shows streets, blocks, and lots, with perhaps with
    a few buildings denoted)
  • pony express routes (a type of mail route in the 1800s)
    use also mail routes
  • population (figures of)
  • population composition (showing composition of population, usually
    by age, race, ethnic background) (term used a subheading under counties)
  • population composition, by counties (showing composition of population,
    usually by age, race, ethnic background focusing on compositon within each
    county) (term used as a subheading under Texas)
  • population distribution within (term used as a subheading under counties)
  • population distribution within counties (term used as a subheading under Texas)
  • population statistics
    use population composition; population distribution
  • population, rural
    use rural population
  • post offices (sites)
  • power plants (sites)
  • power transmission lines (routes of)
  • precincts (generally political, sometimes military, subdivisons)
  • precipitation (amount or distribution of)
    use also rainfall
  • presidios (sites)
    use also proper names of presidio
  • presidios, plans (layout of the presidio)
    use under proper names of presidios
  • prison farm system (sites of farms in the state prison system)
  • prison farms (sites, usually on a county level)
  • prisons (sites)
  • profile (graph or table of a specific features, usually water related)
  • provinces (political subdivisions, generally 1700 - early 1800's)
  • PWA projects (sites, sometime accompanied by illustrations of the completed project)
  • quarries (sites)
    use also mines or quarries

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  • railroad map (focusing on railroads, generally also railroad systems)
  • railroad system (routes of lines of railroads within the system, may be
    a map of a single system, or a state map of all systems)
    use also proper names of railroad system or railroad line; railroads
  • railroads (routes of lines, often naming them)
    use also proper names of railroad lines; railroad map; railroad systems
  • railroads, proposed (routes of railroads not yet built)
  • rainfall (amount or distribution of)
    use also precipitation rainfall stations (stations with gauges measuring rainfall)
    use also precipitation
  • ranches (sites)
  • reclamation and conservation districts (water control districts, post 1900)
    use also water control authorities; proper name of district
  • reclamation work needed (areas in need of such work)
  • reconnaissance map (focusing on the survey of an area, usually for military needs or topographic surveying. The latter is very similar to a topographic map)
  • representative districts (state representative districts)
  • reservoirs (sites)
    use also proper name of reservoir or lake; dams
  • reservoirs, proposed (sites)
    use also proper name of proposed reservoir or lake
  • rights-of-way
    use easements
  • river authorities
    use also water control authorities; proper name of authority
  • river basins
    use also water basins;
    use also with proper name of river, e.g., Red River basin
  • river gauging stations (locations of gauges, usually measuring river flow and drainage)
    use also gauging stations
  • river gauging stations, proposed
  • rivers
    use also proper name of river
  • rivers, annual discharge (refers to the amount of annual runoff from rivers)
  • roads
    use highway map; highways; routes and trails
  • routes and trails (refers to routes in the 1700-1800s)
    use also specific types of routes, eg., cattle trails; explorers,
    routes of expeditions; military routes; mail routes; Indian trails;
    stagecoach routes; pony express routes
    use also proper names of route or road, eg., San Antonio Road
  • ruins (sites)
  • ruins, forts (sites)
  • ruins, Indian (sites)
    use also Indian mounds, prehistoric
  • ruins, missions (sites)
  • rural population
    use also population

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  • salt deposits (sites)
  • salt domes (sites)
  • salt domes, producing (sites)
  • salt mines (sites)
  • school districts
    use also education districts; proper name of district
  • seaports (sites)
  • seashores, national (sites)
  • senatorial districts (Texas or U.S. senatorial districts)
  • sewage disposal plants (sites)
  • sewer systems, municipal (sites)
  • sheep and lamb production by county (sites of production,
    may also show distribution of product) ship channel routes (route through ship channel)
  • ship channels
  • ship routes (routes in the open seas)
    use also galleon routes; steamship routes
  • ship routes, military (routes of military ships in the open seas)
  • shipwrecks (sites)
  • silver deposits (sites)
  • silver mines (sites)
  • sketch map (a basic drawing, often crude or rough, of an area)
  • skirmishes (sites of minor military battles)
  • slaves (may refer to distribution of)
  • soil conservation districts
  • soil map (focusing on the soil formations, similar to a topographic map
    without the contour lines)
  • soils (outlining and naming types of)
  • stagecoach routes
    use also proper name of route
  • statistical tax maps (shows tax amounts in areas)
  • steamship routes (routes of steamships in the open sea)
    use also ship routes
  • stream gauging stations
    use river gauging stations
  • street car routes (routes of street car lines)
  • street map (shows streets, public buildings and facilities, and other features)
  • structural map (focusing on structure of the earth's crust and rocks,
    similar to a geologic map)
  • survey map (focusing on the original land grants awarded by the Mexican
    and/or Texas governments, generally done by the General Land Office)
  • surveyor's districts
  • swine production by county (sites of production, may also show distribution of swine)

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  • tax
    use statistical tax map
  • telegraph lines (routes of)
  • telegraph stations (sites)
  • temperatures (generally distribution by region) temperatures, average
  • Texas Revolution for specific battles,
    use the proper name of the battle
  • timber products (sites of production or tables showing production, may also
    show distribution of timber products)
  • topographic map (focusing on surface features of a region, showing
    contour lines, swamps, marshes, etc.)
  • tourist map (focusing on areas or facilities having tourist appeal)
  • townships (political subdivison of a town or county, uncommon practice in Texas)
  • traffic map (shows traffic patterns and/or amount of traffic on the roads)
  • treasure map (shows site of buried treasure on land and shipwreck along or in the Gulf of Mexico)
  • truck routes
    use also freight truck routes
  • truck routes, interstate
  • truck routes, intrastate

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  • underground railroad (route of)
  • underground water (sites or deposits of)
  • Union troops (Civil War) for specific troop movements,
    use the name of the commander
  • Union works (military defenses)
  • urban compacts (subdivisions of populated areas joined together for urban planning,
    generally post 1950. Generally focused on smaller metropolitan areas, these
    could be on or near the outskirts of major metropolitan areas)
  • utility companies (could refer to boundaries of areas serviced by specific companies, or some companies within a specific area)
  • utility lines (routes of)

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  • water and irrigation districts (water control districts, post 1900)
    use also water control authorities; proper name of the district
  • water control authorities
    use also conservation and reclamation districts; irrigation districts;
    water and irrigation districts; proper name of the authority
  • water control projects (refers to existing or proposed projects for better water
    control management of a given body of water, usually a river)
    use also dams; reservoirs
  • water, underground
    use underground water
  • waterbasins
    use river basins
  • watersheds (refers to area served by a river and its tributaries, could also
    refer to a rivers' drainage area)
    use also with proper name of river, eg. Colorado River watershed; river basins
  • weather forecast divisions weather map (shows climatological features, such as
    temperatures, precipitation, etc.)
  • weather zones
  • wells,
    use gas wells; oil or gas wells; oil wells
  • wildlife management area (sites)
  • wildlife refuges (sites, usually shows boundaries of, as opposed to a dot on a map)
  • wildlife scientific area (sites)
  • WPA districts (subdivisons of the Works Progress Administration)
  • wool production by county (sites of production, may also show distribution of wool)
    zoning plan (one usage) (refers to a typical plan for a small city)

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Page last modified: December 15, 2017