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1973 Map of Empire

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Empire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Mississippi River serves as the central artery for this 1970s orthophotomap, where the industrial footprint of Plaquemines Parish meets the fragile wetland ecology of the delta. The settlement of Empire is clearly defined by its maritime and petroleum infrastructure, featuring the Empire Lock and the Canal connecting the river to the sprawling bay systems. Evidence of the region's economic drivers is visible through the Pipeline corridors and the Oil and Gas Field extending into Quarantine Bay.

For genealogists and local historians, the map preserves the location of riverfront landmarks like Point Pleasant and Tropical Bend, alongside the Point Pleasant Cem and Cannon Cem. The transition from land to water is marked by a complex network of passes and points, including Spanish Pass and Sunrise Point. This survey captures the landscape shortly after the designation of the Delta National Wildlife Refuge, illustrating the proximity of industrial sites like the Sludge Pit to protected coastal environments.