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1963 Map of French Settlement

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of French Settlement
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Amite River winds through this region of southern Louisiana, defining the boundary between Livingston and Ascension Parishes. The landscape is a dense network of waterways including Colyell Creek, Poley Bayou, and Pierre Bayou, which drain into the river near the community of Port Vincent. This area is characterized by low-lying wetlands and swamps, such as St Amant Swamp, with numerous named points and lakes like Lake Villars and Flat Lake indicating the river's shifting path over time.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground and riverbanks, with established communities at French Settlement and Head of Island. Local history is anchored by several rural landmarks, including Lady of the Lake Ch, Mt Zion Ch, and the Watson Cem. The presence of Indian Mound Bayou suggests early land use along the tributaries, while the development of Laurel Ridge and the appearance of a pipeline and various towers by the early 1960s reflect the modernizing infrastructure of the mid-20th century.