1954 Map of Caplen

About this map

Bolivar Peninsula stretches between the Gulf of Mexico and East Bay in this mid-1950s survey, revealing a landscape defined by coastal industry and navigation. The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight line through the salt marshes, reaching a project depth of 12 feet to facilitate marine traffic north of the small settlements of Caplen and Patton. This era of the peninsula is characterized by active petroleum extraction, with numerous Oil Wells, Oil Tanks, and a prominent Oil Derrick clustered near the shoreline. Local geography is intricately detailed with naming for Yates Cove, Crab Lake, and Big Pasture Bayou, providing a clear record of the tidal terrain before modern coastal development altered the footprint of these small Gulf communities.