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1973 Map of Empire

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Empire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

Mississippi River levees and deltaic wetlands define the landscape of Plaquemines Parish in the early 1970s. The settlement of Empire serves as a critical junction between the river and the marsh, anchored by the Empire Lock and the Doullut Canal. The map reveals the intricate network of the local oil and gas industry, with numerous offshore platforms and an extensive Pipeline system cutting through Auguste Bay and Quarantine Bay.

Along the west bank, the Levee protects established communities like Tropical Bend and Point Pleasant, where the Point Pleasant Cem stands as a significant genealogical landmark. This orthophotomap provides a clear view of the eroding coastline and shifting sediment, from the sheltered waters of Kelly Gap to the open reach of Breton Sound. Hydraulic infrastructure, such as the Ballandock Structure and the Gaging Station, highlights the ongoing management of this volatile river-and-bay environment.