1961 Map of Gonzales

About this map

Gonzales serves as the central hub of this Ascension Parish landscape, where the New River and a dense network of bayous dictate the patterns of settlement and drainage. To the south, the Mississippi River creates a dramatic arc at Point Houmas, flanked by the historic Belle Helene Plantation and the riverfront community of Burnside. The era’s industrial activity is evident in the extensive pipeline corridors and a significant tailings pond near the river, signaling the transition from traditional agriculture toward a modernizing economy. Numerous small churches and family-linked cemeteries, such as St Paul Ch, Mt Calvary Ch, and Orange Grove Cem, are scattered throughout the lowlands, providing critical geographic markers for genealogists and local historians tracing the heritage of communities like Marchandville and Cornerview.