1998 Map of Fordoche

About this map

Bayou Grosse Tete and Bayou Maringouin wind through this landscape of the Atchafalaya basin, defining a region where water management and mineral extraction coexist. The map captures the significant petroleum footprint of the late 20th century, dominated by the Fordoche Oil Field, Livonia Oil Field, and Grosse Tete Oil Field. Settlement is concentrated along the higher ground of the bayous, where communities like Fordoche, Livonia, and Valverda are established alongside a network of drainage canals and levees. Local history is anchored by several rural landmarks, including the Indian Mound near Livonia and the Valverda Sch. Numerous churches and cemeteries, such as Sunlight Ch Cem and Mt Pilgrim Ch, are scattered throughout the agricultural and oil-producing tracts. To the southwest, the Protection Levee marks the boundary of the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, illustrating the intersection of industrial development and conservation.