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1935 Map of Tropical Bend

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Tropical Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1935
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1935

About this map

The Mississippi River dominates this mid-1930s landscape, flanked by a complex network of levees and man-made waterways like the Doullut Canal and Johnson Canal. These channels were essential for navigating the marshy environment of Plaquemines Parish, connecting the river to expansive coastal waters such as Quarantine Bay and Adams Bay. The settlement at Empire and the landmark of Tropical Bend show a narrow ribbon of development pressed against the river's eastern bank, served by the Louisiana Southern Railroad and State Highway No 31.

Behind the riverfront, the map reveals a fragile geography of points and passes, including Sunrise Pt and Spanish Pass. Smaller bayous such as Harris Bayou and Lamogue Bayou provide the only drainage for the interior wetlands. This survey represents the area just before significant 20th-century coastal changes altered many of these water-to-land boundaries, making it a vital reference for tracing the original footprint of local fishing and transit hubs.