1942 Map of Lake Charles

About this map

The Calcasieu River defines the western reaches of this 1940s landscape, where the urban development of Lake Charles meets the agricultural prairies of Southwest Louisiana. The map reveals a transition from the city’s industrial and educational hubs, such as Lake Charles Junior College and La Grange High Sch, to a rural interior dictated by irrigation and drainage. A sophisticated network of canals, including the Farmers Land and Canal Co Ditch and the Missouri Pacific Canal, supports the surrounding fields. The southern portion of the survey tracks the boundary between Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, crossing through Plaquemine Ridge toward the Intracoastal Waterway. This era of growth is evidenced by the presence of the Lake Charles Airport and the Radio Range Beacon, while established rural life continues at Prairieland Community Church and the settlements of Holmwood and Chalkley.