1961 Map of Star Lake

About this map

The Gulf of Mexico coastline in Jefferson County meets an intricate network of coastal wetlands and industrial water management in this early 1960s survey. The landscape is dominated by the Salt Bayou Marsh and Spindletop Marsh, reflecting the region's historical connection to the petroleum era and the need for significant drainage infrastructure like the Spindletop Ditch. The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight path through these marshes, providing a vital shipping artery that bypasses the natural meanders of Salt (Fivemile Bayou Cut). Grounded features such as Star Lake and Little Lake sit alongside evidence of resource extraction, including a prominent Pipe Line and a Pumping Station near Willie Slough. To the north, the elevation of Big Hill provides a rare point of relief in an otherwise fluid environment of sloughs and tidal marshes.