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1953 Map of Prairieville

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Prairieville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Amite River meanders along the border of East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes, defining a landscape of oxbow lakes and wetlands like Horseshoe Lake and Melton Lake. In the early 1950s, the southern portion of this region in Ascension Parish shows a maturing network of rural settlements and agricultural centers. The Airline Highway and the Kansas City Southern railroad form a clear industrial and transport spine through the heart of the area, connecting established communities such as Prairieville, Duplessis, and Dutch Town.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, including numerous community churches like Broussard Grove Ch and New Light Ch, alongside several schools such as Prairieville Sch and Foreman Sch. The transition from the alluvial bottomlands of the Manchac Bayou to the drier settlement nodes illustrates the historical reliance on elevated ground for building. Scattered oil wells near the river signify the early development of the local petroleum industry within this traditional riverine environment.