1965 Map of Turnbull Island

About this map

Turnbull Island is defined by its position within the complex hydrologic network of the Red River and the Upper Old River at the boundary of Louisiana and Mississippi. The landscape is a labyrinth of oxbows and backwaters, including Moreau Lake, Grand Lake, and Gibson Lake, illustrating the dynamic nature of these river systems. Small-scale development is concentrated in the southern section, where the Oak Grove Ch and Royal Oak Ch stand as community anchors alongside the Turnbull Cem. A massive Outflow Channel cuts across the center of the sheet, signaling the significant water management infrastructure required to control this flood-prone region. The presence of an Old Railroad Grade near Alligator Bayou suggests an earlier era of industrial transit through the bottomlands that had already faded by the mid-1960s.