1956 Map of Port Arthur

About this map

Port Arthur and its neighboring industrial centers of Nederland and Port Neches anchor the western edge of this coastal survey, where the Neches River meets Sabine Lake. The landscape transition from the refineries and Southern Pacific rail lines of Jefferson County into the expansive wetlands of Cameron Parish is meticulously documented. The map details a complex hydraulic environment of drainage and navigation, featuring the Intracoastal Waterway and various arteries like Starks Canal and Willow Bayou Canal. Inland from the Gulf of Mexico, the terrain is defined by isolated settlements and extensive wildlife habitats, including the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. The eastern reaches toward Abbeville and Kaplan reveal a pattern of coastal ridges such as Hackberry Ridge and Little Chenier Ridge, which have historically provided higher ground for communities like Grand Chenier and Pecan Island.