1954 Map of Petite Amite River

About this map

The Petite Amite River and Blind River meander through this dense wetland landscape at the convergence of Livingston, Ascension, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes. Based on 1930s field examinations and aerial photography, the map reveals a wilderness defined by water, where drainage is the primary topographical feature. The presence of Garyville (Abandoned) and Northern (Abandoned) suggests the vestiges of early industry or settlement that once attempted to find purchase in this damp terrain. These former sites sit alongside a complex network of bayous, including Bayou Chene Blanc, Antoine Bayou, and Bayou Secret. The straight lines of the New River Canal provide a sharp contrast to the natural curves of Black Lake and Little Bayou Chene Blanc, illustrating early 20th-century water management and infrastructure in the Louisiana lowlands.