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1983 Map of Sunset

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Sunset
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The agrarian landscape of St. Landry Parish in the early 1980s is defined by a dense network of coulees and bayous that drain into Bayou Teche. The map captures the twin settlements of Sunset and Grand Coteau, showing the concentration of institutional landmarks that shaped the local community. St Charles College and the Sacred Heart Academy stand as prominent educational anchors, while the Southern Pacific rail line cuts through the western portion of the region, linking smaller hubs like Shuteston and Veltin to the wider Gulf Coast economy.

Energy extraction is visible in the north at the Veltin Gas Field, contrasting with the numerous family and church-affiliated burial sites such as Montgomery Wilkins Cem and Bellevue Memorial Park. The intricate drainage pattern, marked by labels like Coulee Rouge and Bayou Bourbeux, dictates the placement of roads and homesteads, revealing how the water-rich terrain of South Louisiana influenced rural development patterns before the expansion of modern infrastructure.