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1951 Map of Pecan Island

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Pecan Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Pecan Island emerges as a distinct linear settlement along the chenier ridges of Vermilion Parish in this mid-century survey. The landscape is defined by these narrow, elevated strands of shell and sand, including Cypress Point, Sweet Bay Ridge, and Lambert Ridge, which provided the only habitable ground amidst the surrounding marshlands. A small Cem is noted near the center of the island, reflecting the deep-rooted community ties in this isolated coastal environment.

Industrial activity is prominent with an extensive Oil Field and numerous Oil Wells scattered across the wetlands, particularly south of White Lake and near Schooner Bayou. The map captures the complex water management system of the era, from the Pecan Island Canal to the Spoil Bank Canal, illustrating how the delta's natural hydrology was being reshaped for resource extraction and navigation. The remote southern reaches show the transition to the Gulf of Mexico, marked by coastal features like Mulberry Island and Sand Ridge.