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1909 Map of Lake Bruen

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Lake Bruen
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

The alluvial landscape of Tensas Parish is defined by the winding course of the Mississippi River and the prominent oxbow of Lake Bruen. This 1909 survey, conducted in cooperation with the Fifth Louisiana Levee District, reveals a highly organized agricultural economy centered on named plantation estates. Major holdings such as Bellevue Plantation, Lakewood Plantation, and Panola Plantation occupy the fertile ground between the river and the lake, reflecting the land use patterns common to the Mississippi Delta at the start of the 20th century.

Transportation and community life are concentrated along the western edge of the oxbow, where the St Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad passes through Saint Joseph. The map identifies several rural houses of worship, including Zion Baptist Church and Sevenstock Church, providing valuable data for genealogists tracing family roots in this riverine district. The presence of the St Joseph Sta and various secondary roads illustrates the connection between these plantations and the broader regional markets.