1973 Map of Empire

About this map

Empire stands at the vital intersection of the Mississippi River and the Doullut Canal in this 1970s orthophotomap of Plaquemines Parish. The landscape is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the delta's petroleum economy, with the Cox Bay Oil and Gas Field and Quarantine Bay Oil and Gas Field dotting the surrounding marshes with platforms and pipelines. The transition from river commerce to the coastal wetlands is facilitated by the Empire Lock and protected by the Empire Levee. For those researching local history or genealogy, the map identifies small markers of settlement like Cannon Cem and Point Pleasant Cem at Point Pleasant. To the east, the Bohemia Spillway Wildlife Management Area covers a complex network of bays, including Bay la Mer and California Bay, illustrating the precarious balance between industrial use and the natural environment of Breton Sound.