1961 Map of Star Lake

About this map

The Gulf of Mexico coastline meets a complex network of coastal wetlands and engineering in this Jefferson County landscape. Dominated by the Salt Bayou Marsh, the area shows a distinct transition from the natural winding channels of Salt Bayou and Willie Slough Gully to the straight, purposeful lines of mid-century industrial infrastructure. The massive Intracoastal Waterway cuts a direct path across the marsh, facilitating maritime traffic and bypasses like the Salt (Fivemile Bayou Cut). Evidence of early-to-mid 20th-century energy development is clear, with a notable Pipeline and Pumping Station serving the region. Elevated terrain such as Big Hill and the basin of Star Lake provide the few breaks in a water-saturated environment defined by features like Spindletop Marsh and Little Lake.