1956 Map of Gaytine

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the primary north-south artery through this mid-1950s landscape, connecting the small settlements of Gaytine, Turps, and Gillis. This area is defined by its complex waterway network and shifting parish boundaries, where Marsh Bayou and Indian Bayou snake through the terrain. The map captures a moment in Southwest Louisiana when industrial and transit infrastructure, including a prominent Radio Tower WT and a localized Canal, integrated with the natural drainage basins of Boggy Creek and Barnes Creek. Genealogists and local historians can trace the precise intersections of Beauregard, Allen, Calcasieu, and Jefferson Davis parishes as they stood during this survey period, providing a clear view of the regional geography before modern development altered these rural bayou communities.