1965 Map of Donaldsonville

About this map

The Mississippi River winds through this mid-1960s survey, anchoring a landscape of historic plantation tracts and expanding oil industry. The river’s deep meander at Bringier Point and Point Houmas is lined with named properties such as Belle Helene Plantation, Monroe Plantation, and the Uncle Sam Plantation, reflecting the long-standing land divisions of St James Parish and Ascension Parish. Inland from the river, the settlement of Gonzales shows significant growth near Bayou Narcisse, while the petroleum economy is evident in the Darrow Oil Field and the Sorrento Gas and Oil Field. The Illinois Central and Kansas City Southern railroads provide critical transport links through the lowlands, passing by rural centers like Sorrento and St Amant. Local history is preserved in numerous church and cemetery sites, including St Landry Ch Cem and the combined St Michael Sch & St Michael Cem near Convent.