1935 Map of Moss Bluff

About this map

The Calcasieu River dominates this mid-1930s landscape north of Lake Charles, winding through a complex system of marshes and bayous. This area shows a critical transition from river-dependent transportation to modern rail and road networks, evidenced by the numerous ferry crossings such as Southerland Ferry and Perkins Ferry situated near the newer Southern Pacific rail line. Small settlements like Newton, Ararat, and Moss Bluff are scattered across the central plains, while more remote industrial sites like Moser Mill sit further north. The map documents the intricate hydrology of the region, specifically how English Bayou and the West Fork Calcasieu River interact with the larger main channel. For those tracking family history, the inclusion of Ritchie Cem and established hamlets like Gillis and Belfield provide precise locations for ancestral homesteads during this period of coastal Louisiana development.