1983 Map of Lawtell

About this map

Lawtell and the surrounding prairies of St. Landry Parish are defined by an intricate network of bayous and a dense cluster of rural institutions during the early 1980s. The landscape is structured around the Missouri Pacific railroad line, which connects the main settlement at Lawtell with Veazie to the east. This area is notable for its high concentration of family-named landmarks and parish infrastructure, including the Pitre Cem and Bertrand Cem, alongside numerous country churches like Sacred Heart Ch and Holy Family Ch. The presence of the Drive-in Theater near Veazie and multiple schools like Lawtell Sch reflects a settled, community-oriented agricultural region. Natural drainage is dictated by winding waterways such as Bayou Mallet and Bayou Plaquemine Brulé, which fragment the rectangular land divisions and influence the placement of early homesteads and cemeteries.