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1963 Map of Gheens

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Gheens
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The settlement of Gheens sits at the heart of this coastal Louisiana landscape, where the transition from cultivated land to expansive wetlands is clearly defined. This 1960s environment is dominated by the Company Canal and a complex network of bayous, including Bayou Vacherie and Bayou Portuguese, which reflect the region's historical reliance on water for transport and drainage. Religious and community life is anchored by St Anthony Ch and Gheens Ch, with the associated Gheens Ch Cem providing a valuable record for local genealogists.

Industrial activity in the southern portion of the quadrangle is marked by the Valentine Oil Field, where numerous drill holes and oil wells suggest the mid-century energy boom. The presence of the Southern Pacific railroad line on the southwestern edge highlights the infrastructure connecting these remote marshlands to broader commerce. From the winding Chateau de Cypres to the smaller Petit Bois Bayou, the map documents a delicate balance between human settlement and the tidal hydrology of Lafourche Parish.