1972 Map of Powell Point

About this map

The Saline State Wildlife Management Area dominates this landscape at the intersection of LaSalle, Rapides, Catahoula, and Avoyelles Parishes. In the early 1970s, the region's geography is defined by an intricate network of waterways, including West Saline Lake, Saline Lake, and the winding Old River. The map documents the extensive petroleum infrastructure of the era, notably the West Saline Lake Oil Field and Saline Lake Oil Field, with numerous Oil Wells and Drill Holes scattered across the basin. Local genealogical interest is anchored by the Deville Cem near Big Island in the northwest. From Powell Point to Horse Island, the terrain is a complex puzzle of bayous like Jumping Bayou and Muddy Bayou, illustrating the natural drainage patterns of the Central Louisiana bottomlands before modern topographic changes.