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1962 Map of Donaldsonville

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Donaldsonville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Donaldsonville sits at a sharp bend in the Mississippi River, serving as a central hub for the surrounding river parishes in the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by the traditional long-lot plantation system, with narrow tracts extending back from the riverbanks. Several of these named estates, including Union Plantation, St Mary Plantation, and Dugas Plantation, are still clearly delineated, illustrating the enduring agricultural patterns of the region. The town itself shows significant development, featuring schools like Lowery High School and Ascension High School, alongside a local Fairground.

Away from the river, the terrain shifts toward more industrial and low-lying uses. The Lapice Oil Field indicates the extraction economy of the mid-century, while a network of waterways like Bayou Verret and Bayou Napoleon drain the interior. Further south, the map transitions into the wetlands and marshes of the Seatra Canal and Baker Canal North, where smaller settlements like Brulie Maurin and Welcome are established.