Loading map...

1963 Map of Baton Rouge West

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Baton Rouge West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Mississippi River dominates this mid-century landscape, acting as the dividing line between the growing urban core of Baton Rouge and the industrial and agricultural developments of West Baton Rouge Parish. In the early 1960s, the riverfront shows a transition from historical sites like the Poplar Grove Plantation and Brusly Landing to modern infrastructure such as the Municipal Dock and the Intracoastal Waterway (Port Allen Canal).

East of the river, the campus of Louisiana State University and A & M College is clearly defined alongside University Lake and College Lake. The map details a dense network of neighborhoods like Istrouma and Eden Park, interspersed with significant local institutions including Magnolia Cem, McKinley High Sch, and the State Capitol. This era shows the footprint of the Kansas City Southern and Texas and Pacific railroads as they supported the regional economy before the massive expansion of the interstate system.