1954 Map of Pecan Island SE

About this map

Freshwater Bayou and the Belle Isle Canal carve through the coastal marshlands of Vermilion Parish in this mid-century topographic survey. The landscape is defined by the thin, firm lines of cheniers—low-lying sandy ridges such as Front Ridge, Beef Ridge, and Sand Ridge—which provided the only stable ground for travel and settlement in an otherwise fluid environment. These ridges, including the isolated Mulberry Island, stand as distinct topographic breaks against the massive expanse of wetlands leading to the Gulf of Mexico. The presence of several stretches labeled Pirogue Trail highlights the specialized waterborne transit of the era, where small, traditional boats were essential for navigating the shallow interior waters. This map, compiled from 1932 field examinations and Army Air Corps aerial photography, documents the intricate drainage patterns and natural banks, such as Shelf Bank, that shaped the life and economy of the Louisiana coast before modern coastal erosion and engineering significantly altered the shoreline.