1892 Map of Houma

About this map

Houma sits at the nexus of several vital waterways in the late nineteenth century, reflecting its role as a regional hub for the bayou-based economy. The town is situated where Bayou Black meets the Bayou Terrebonne, surrounded by a landscape of sprawling wetlands and distinct ridge-top settlements. Along the Bayou Lafourche, the map documents the linear pattern of plantation properties and settlements including Raceland and Lockport, connected by the Southern Pacific R. R. and the Company Canal. This era represents a transition from purely water-borne transport to the introduction of rail, yet the geography remains dominated by large bodies like Field Lake and Lake Long. The survey provides a clear look at the intricate network of natural drainage, including Bayou Blue and Bayou de Large, that defined the early development of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.