1953 Map of Lobdell

About this map

Agricultural and industrial land use intersect along the alluvial plains of West Baton Rouge Parish in the early 1950s. The landscape is defined by its complex water network, dominated by the winding course of Choctaw Bayou and the engineered Basin Drainage Canal. Small settlements like Lobdell and Allendale are situated along the Missouri Pacific and Texas and Pacific railroad lines, which served as vital corridors for transporting sugar cane and oil from the nearby Port Allen Oil Field. Several rural institutions anchor these communities, including the Christ Ch Cem and Little Rock Ch, providing essential reference points for genealogists tracing family roots in this corner of the Mississippi Delta. The transition between the wet bayous, such as Grand Bayou, and the industrial rail hubs reflects the mid-century economy of the region.