1954 Map of Loreauville

About this map

Bayou Teche defines the western edge of this landscape, anchoring a string of historic Acadiana settlements like Loreauville and Broussard Switch. The region in the early 1950s is characterized by a transition from the agricultural lands along the bayou to the expansive wetlands of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway. Significant early energy infrastructure is evident in the Fausse Point Oil Field and Dauterive Oil Field, while the presence of an Indian Mound near Haha Bay points to much older human activity in the swamp. Genealogy researchers can find numerous local landmarks, including the Mt Zion Ch & Cem No 2 and the Belle Ch Sch & Cem, which served the rural communities of Iberia Parish and St Martin Parish. The intricate network of waterways like Bayou L'Embarras and Fausse Point Lake illustrates the complex hydrology of the basin before mid-century flood control measures were fully finalized.