1953 Map of Empire

About this map

Mississippi River levees and the industrial footprint of the mid-century petroleum industry define this landscape in Plaquemines Parish. The settlements of Empire, Buras, and Port Sulphur line the narrow corridor of dry land between the river and the encroaching waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Along this stretch, the map records numerous family and community landmarks, including the Roxy Jane Cem, Nairn Cem, and Mt Zion Ch, which sit just behind the protection of the riverbank. The economic drivers of the era are visible in the Potash Oil Field and Bastian Bay Oil Field, reflecting a time when oil and sulfur extraction were rapidly reshaping the wetlands. Pumping stations and relief outlets like the Relief Outlet demonstrate the constant engineering required to maintain habitable ground in this river-delta environment.