1974 Map of Belle Rose

About this map

The Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche dictate the cultural geography of this Louisiana river country, where long-lot land divisions stretch back from the water's edge into the surrounding wetlands. This 1974 survey captures the dense ribbon of settlements following the levees, centered on the historic river town of Donaldsonville and extending south through Smoke Bend, Belle Rose, and Klotzville. The landscape is a transition between the industrial and agricultural, featuring the Texas and Pacific railroad line, a Gas and Oil Field, and active Crawfish Farms. This period shows several private airfields, including the Lane-Air Landing Strip and Belle Alliance Landing Strip, serving the local sugar and chemical interests. Researchers can trace family-named sites like Barton and Kessler, along with the small community of Freetown and the Virginia Ch church.