1957 Map of Mauriceville

About this map

Mauriceville and its surrounding wetlands are defined by the convergence of heavy rail and a complex network of bayous in the late 1950s. The Kansas City Southern and Missouri Pacific railroads intersect near Lemonville, anchoring a landscape where timber and petroleum interests meet. Low-lying areas are crisscrossed by an extensive system of levees and drainage features like the Lemonville Canal and an Abandoned Canal, reflecting persistent efforts to manage the water of Adams Bayou and Gum Gully Bayou. Rural life is marked by several small family and community burial grounds, including Wilkinson Cem and Parish Cem, alongside the Little Cypress Sch. The presence of numerous Oil Wells and a prominent Lookout Tower speaks to the industrial and resource management priorities of the Orange County backcountry during this era of development.