1961 Map of Gonzales

About this map

Gonzales serves as the focal point of this 1961 revision, situated at the junction of the Kansas City Southern railroad and a network of bayous including the New River and Grand Goudine Bayou. The landscape transition from the town center to the riverfront illustrates the deep-rooted agricultural and industrial heritage of Ascension Parish. Along the Mississippi River, the bend at Point Houmas is flanked by the historic Belle Helene Plantation and the settlement of Burnside, where the Illinois Central line follows the levee. This area is notably rich in community landmarks, featuring a high density of rural churches and cemeteries such as St Landry Ch, Little Zion Ch, and the Orange Grove Cem. The presence of a Tailings Pond and an Oil Field near the river indicates the mid-century industrial expansion into formerly agricultural Field lands, connected by emerging Pipeline infrastructure.