1986 Map of Soileau

About this map

The Coushatta Indian Reservation dominates the landscape of this 1980s survey, illustrating the complex land divisions in rural Allen Parish. Situated between Oberlin and the small settlement of Soileau, the terrain is defined by an intricate network of waterways including Blue Bayou, Bayou Sonnier, and Spring Bayou. The map captures a moment in the mid-1980s when the region's agricultural and natural boundaries remained heavily dictated by the winding path of Castor Creek and numerous coulees. Researchers will find numerous unnamed Cem markers and a dense concentration of wells and pipelines, indicating a landscape heavily utilized for resource extraction. This provisional map provides a detailed view of the interaction between tribal lands and the developing rural infrastructure of southwestern Louisiana before late-century shifts.