Texas as understood in the mid-1700s under Spanish colonial rule

This map illustrates how the territory of Texas changed repeatedly over time. Rather than representing one fixed region, Texas evolved through shifting colonial boundaries, cartographic interpretations, republic-era claims, and the eventual shape of the modern state. The comparison is especially striking in the 1836 Republic of Texas claim, which extended far beyond present-day Texas. Maps like this are valuable because they show that place names in historical records do not always match modern geography, making them essential tools for understanding the past.

“Successive territorial changes of Texas.”

Primitive Texas

Boundaries in the mid-18th century

Boundaries according to the 1816 map

Republic of Texas in 1836

Present-day Texas