1960 Map of Orange

About this map

The Sabine River serves as the dominant industrial and geographical artery for this borderland, where the urban grid of Orange meets the sprawling marshlands of Louisiana. During this mid-century period, the landscape reflects a complex economy of maritime defense and energy extraction, centered on the U S Naval Station and the Phoenix Lake Oil Field. While the Texas side is densely packed with civic infrastructure like the St Marys Church, Evergreen Cem, and numerous schools, the eastern reaches in Calcasieu Parish remain largely defined by natural water features such as Blue Lake and Tupelo Swamp. The intricate network of the Intracoastal Waterway and various cuts, like the Berwick Cut, highlight the region's total reliance on waterborne commerce and its evolving industrial shoreline.