1952 Map of La Branche

About this map

The marshy lowlands of St. Charles Parish meet the southern shores of Lake Pontchartrain in this mid-century survey of the Mississippi River delta region. The landscape is defined by the intersection of natural drainage and human engineering, featuring a complex network of waterways like Bayou La Branche and Bayou Piquant alongside the industrial presence of an Oil Field. Significant civil works dominate the western and eastern portions of the sheet, notably the Bonnet Carre Floodway and the West Boundary of Kenner Protection Levee, illustrating the era's intensive flood control efforts. The Illinois Central railroad cuts a straight diagonal across the wetlands, providing a critical transport link near the small settlement of La Branche. The map also captures the meticulously numbered drainage systems, such as Canal No 7 and Canal No 17, which reflect the systematic attempt to manage this water-bound environment.