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1970 Map of Palmetto

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Palmetto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

St Landry Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish are defined by the intricate hydrology of the Atchafalaya River and its sprawling spillways. This era reveals a landscape transitioning from traditional bayou settlements like Rideau Settlement and Waxia to an industrializing corridor shaped by the Missouri Pacific RR and expanding energy interests. The southern portion is anchored by Port Barre, where the Bayou Teche begins its course amidst a network of sloughs and prongs.

Evidence of established community life is visible in the numerous country churches and graveyards, including Sacred Heart Ch and Gaudet Cem, while the massive Atchafalaya Floodway dominates the eastern half of the sheet. The presence of the Washington Oil and Gas Field and similar sites near Krotz Springs highlights the 1970s reliance on the region's natural resources. Much of the western interior is preserved within the Thistlethwaite State Wildlife Management Area, surrounding the waters of Foy Lake.