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1953 Map of Pigeon Bay

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Pigeon Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Atchafalaya Floodway dominates this mid-century view of the Louisiana swamp, where a complex network of waterways defines the landscape. The Grand River and Bayou Maringouin snake through the northern sections, passing the Grand River Sch and a Gaging Station located near the protective levee. This area is characterized by shifting sediment and seasonal water levels, with prominent features like Upper Flat and Middle Flat indicating the basin's hydrology.

Local history is preserved in the naming of the numerous bayous, such as Murphy Bayou, Sullivan Bayou, and the somberly named Graveyard Bayou. The map captures the boundary between Iberville Parish and St Martin Parish, showing how political lines follow the winding currents of Pigeon Bay and its surrounding marshlands. This survey provides a baseline for the region before modern drainage and flood control projects further altered the course of these historic waters.