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1960 Map of Basile

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Basile
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The town of Basile sits at the convergence of several Louisiana parishes, marking a landscape defined by its transition from prairie to wetlands. In the early 1960s, this region was a critical node for both agricultural and energy interests. The map documents the extensive development of natural resources, featuring the North Tepetate Oil and Gas Field and the Evangeline Oil and Gas Field. These industrial zones are interspersed with established rural communities like Iota, Elton, and Hathaway, where local life centered around institutions such as St Monica Ch and Miller Ch.

Transportation networks are anchored by the Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads, which facilitated the movement of goods through the lowlands of Bayou Nezpique. The presence of numerous family-named cemeteries, including St Ann Ch Cem, Gatte Cem, and Riverside Cem, provides essential documentation for genealogical research in this multi-parish area. From the irrigation flumes and siphons near Panchoville to the quiet reaches of Young Lake, the map captures the intricate water management required to sustain this productive coastal plain.