Loading map...

1955 Map of Lake Charles SE

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Lake Charles SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The settlement of Holmwood sits at the northern edge of this coastal prairie landscape, where the Southern Pacific railroad line cuts across the terrain. This mid-century survey illustrates the intricate water management required in the lowlands of Calcasieu Parish and Cameron Parish, dominated by features such as the Government Ditch, Indian Bayou Levee, and the North Canal. These man-made alterations to the landscape speak to the agricultural and industrial efforts to tame the wetlands south of Lake Charles.

Local social centers are visible in the placement of Sweet Lake Ch and St Joseph Ch, serving families across the Bois Petit Plateau. Near the southern boundary, the Sweet Lake Pumping Station and several named waterways like Jacques Coulee define the drainage patterns of the era. The map provides a clear record of property lines and rural infrastructure before the intensification of modern development in Southwest Louisiana.