1956 Map of Grand Island Pass

About this map

Coastal wetlands and intricate tidal bayous define this mid-century survey of the Mississippi Sound shoreline near the Louisiana border. The tiny settlements of Ansley and Lakeshore are established on the higher ground of the interior, while the surrounding marsh is divided by large ancestral land grants such as the George Mares Claim and the Stephen Wintworth Claim. These historic claims suggest early settlement patterns that persisted long after the Nashville and Louisville Road provided inland access. Along the coast, complex water networks like Caddy Bayou and Heron Bayou weave through a landscape of shifting points and islands. Cultural markers like St Anns Ch and the Bayou Caddy Cem provide anchor points for genealogists researching the families of Hancock County. To the south, isolated landmasses including Point Clear Island and the substantial Grand Island separate the sound from Lake Borgne.