1892 Map of Gibson

About this map

Bayou Black defines the drainage and settlement patterns of this corner of Louisiana in the late nineteenth century. In this low-lying landscape, human activity clings to the higher ground along the natural levees of the watercourses. The Southern Pacific Railroad cuts a straight line across the wetlands, connecting the small settlements of Gibson, Chacahoula, and Schriever. The map reveals a distinct transition from the narrow ribbons of development along the bayous to the expansive marshes that dominate the southern and western portions of the survey area. Smaller hubs like Mc Bride and Ellendale appear along the banks of the waterways, where agriculture and early industry were most sustainable before the advent of modern drainage systems. Significant water bodies such as Bayou Blue and Bayou Tiger further illustrate the intricate hydrologic network of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.