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1956 Map of Baton Rouge

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Baton Rouge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Baton Rouge skyline is dominated by the Capitol on this mid-century survey, which reveals the complex geography of the Mississippi River and its surrounding bayous. The river forms dramatic loops and oxbows, including the prominent False River and Raccourci Old River, signaling a landscape shaped by shifting water courses. Industrial development is visible through numerous Oil wells scattered across the Atchafalaya Basin and the river banks, while the presence of Profit Island and Cat Island highlights the intricate island-and-channel network north of the city.

Transportation infrastructure is well-established, with the Texas and Pacific and Illinois Central railroads connecting river towns to the broader region. To the east, the map captures the vast expanse of Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, linked by the critical Pass Manchac waterway. Settlements like Scotlandville and Baker represent the post-war suburban growth spreading outward from the industrial and political hub of the state capital.