1935 Map of Ponchatoula

About this map

Illinois Central Railroad tracks bisect this 1930s coastal Louisiana landscape, cutting a straight line south from Ponchatoula toward the wetlands surrounding Jones Island. The map records a moment when rural life centered around local hubs like Sweet Home Ch and several small schools including Wadesboro Sch and Hollywood Sch. The transition from the settled uplands around Hammond to the marshy periphery of Lake Pontchartrain is clearly defined, with the Tangipahoa River and Tickfaw River snaking through the lowlands. Coastal infrastructure is anchored by Manchac Akers P O, situated at the vital water connection of Pass Manchac. This survey, compiled in part from early Air Corps aerial photography, captures the intricate network of bayous and the nascent highway system including U. S. Highway No 51 as it navigates the challenging terrain of the Maurepas basin.