1955 Map of Jennings

About this map

The Mermentau River and Lake Arthur define the drainage and commerce of this south Louisiana landscape, where the petroleum industry and agricultural land use meet. In the mid-1950s, the region was heavily shaped by extensive energy development, including the Jennings Oil and Gas Field and the South Jennings Oil and Gas Field. The map reveals a network of rural life organized around parish lines, with local educational and spiritual centers such as Jefferson Davis High Sch, Klondike Sch, and St Gertrude Ch serving the outlying populations. Transportation is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad, which connects the primary hubs of Jennings, Roanoke, and Mermentau. This survey captures the intricate system of bayous, such as Grand Marais and Bayou Plaquemine Brule, alongside the numerous cemeteries including Indian Cem and Quebodeaux Cem that anchor the local genealogy of Acadia and Jefferson Davis parishes.