1960 Map of Basile

About this map

Basile and the surrounding prairies of south-central Louisiana are defined here by a dense network of rice-farming infrastructure and petroleum exploration. The map captures an era of intensive land use, where the Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads provided the vital transport links for small agricultural communities like Elton, Iota, and Hathaway. The landscape is etched with irrigation siphons and flumes, including the prominent Missouri Flume, supporting the water-intensive demands of local rice cultivation.