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1951 Map of Ponchatoula

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Ponchatoula
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Illinois Central R.R. cuts a straight line south through the wetlands of Tangipahoa Parish, bridging the gap between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain. This low-lying landscape is defined by the complex waterways of Jones Island, where the North Pass and Manchac Pass meet near the fishing and rail community of Manchac Akers P.O.. At the edge of the open water, the Pass Manchac L H stands as a vital navigational marker for vessels transitioning between the lakes.

Further inland, the settlements of Hammond and Ponchatoula show established residential grids supported by a network of rural institutions. Local history is preserved in several family and community burial grounds, including Wetmore Cem and Sand Hill Cem, while the presence of the Lumber R.R. reflects the region's historical reliance on the timber industry. Small country churches like New Hope Ch and schools such as Booker Sch anchor the scattered homesteads north of the swamp line.