1976 Map of Franklinton SW

About this map

Franklinton anchors the northeastern corner of this 1976 orthophotoquad, serving as a clear visual record of the parish seat's expansion and street layout during the mid-1970s. The photographic nature of the map, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, reveals the intricate meandering path of the Bogue Chitto river as it snakes south through Washington Parish. Unlike traditional line-drawn maps, this aerial perspective provides an unfiltered view of the agricultural patterns, timber tracts, and road networks that defined the rural landscape. Geologists and local historians can observe the sharp contrast between the developed town center and the dense woodland and river bottoms that characterize this portion of southeast Louisiana, documenting the exact footprint of human settlement and natural drainage before modern developments altered the terrain.