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1962 Map of Reserve

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Reserve
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Mississippi River frontage defines the development of St. John the Baptist Parish in the early 1960s, where traditional riverfront estates like San Francisco Plantation and Gold Mine Plantation contrast with industrial and transportation growth. The landscape is heavily structured by river proximity, with the Kansas City Southern, Illinois Central, and Texas and Pacific railroads running parallel to the banks to serve riverfront communities.

Settlements such as Reserve, Garyville, and Edgard anchor the local economy, supported by rail stops at Reserve Station and Edgard Station. Further inland, the map captures a mix of agricultural drainage and specialized infrastructure, including a Drag Strip near Laplace. The transition from riverfront settlements to the interior marsh is marked by a complex system of canals and bayous, including the Reserve Relief Canal and Dutch Bayou, reflecting the ongoing efforts to manage the water-dependent geography of the Mississippi delta.