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1939 Map of Donaldsonville

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Donaldsonville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Mississippi River winds through this 1939 survey, defining the borders of Ascension Parish, St James Parish, and Assumption Parish. Centered on Donaldsonville, the landscape is a dense network of river-oriented commerce and agriculture, where the Illinois Central and Texas and Pacific Ry railroads connect long-standing riverfront tracts. Beyond the levee, the map documents the transition from established settlements like Gonzales and Burnside to the low-lying eastern terrain marked by McElroy Ridge and Junction Ridge.

Genealogists will find exceptional detail in the distribution of community centers such as St Paul Ch & Cem, Little Zion Sch Ch & Cem, and the St Landry Ch & Cem. The map preserves the location of numerous agricultural operations, including Dugas Plantation and Donaldson Plantation, alongside smaller rail-dependent stops like Belle Helene Sta and Humphries. This detailed mapping captures the region's complex water management, from the Panama Canal to Bayou Manchac.