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1938 Map of Lafourche

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Lafourche
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Bayou Lafourche serves as the central artery for this 1938 landscape, where the traditional plantation economy and burgeoning rail infrastructure intersect. The survey reveals a corridor of historical estates including Greenwood Plantation, Abby Plantation, and Laurel Valley Plantation, illustrating the persistent linear settlement pattern common to South Louisiana. The city of Thibodaux stands as the primary hub, anchored by the Texas and Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads which converge at Thibodaux Junction.

Beyond the urban center, the map documents smaller communities and social centers like Morningstar Ch, Choupique Sch, and Johnson Ridge. The transition from cultivated fields to the natural landscape is marked by Derby Swamp and the waters of Chegby Bayou, while industrial remnants like numerous Pump Sta locations suggest the sophisticated water management systems required for the region's agricultural success.