First, my notes on La.1:
I've traveled all of La.1 and find it to traverse 4 or 5 distinct areas of the state. I am initially basing these distinct areas on geology as geology seems to have ruled, partially, of course, the ethnic backgrounds of those areas' inhabitants. These areas are the Red River Valley, north of Alexandria, the Red River Valley south of Alexandria, then the Mississippi River high ground for a ways north and south of Baton Rouge, and then the Bayou Lafourche high ground down to the Gulf.
The nationalities that live along its length number too high to mention here. Let's just say, Europeans, Asians, Africans, and Orientals. That should cover most of them. Now for some maps while I decide how in depth I want to make this page. I've put off doing La.1 because it needs to be at the top of the list and what I do with its page will set an expected precedent for the other roads. Let me state here, La.1 is a special case and the others only sit in its shadow and will not get the frills this page will.
First of all, right click these maps and left click "open in a new window".
They are the very large versions. What you see below is a "thumb" or "shortcut image".
Second, right click the YELLOW LINKS LINES and left click "open in new window" so you can follow that YELLOW LINK out a few pages and won't get lost from here. Just close that new window when you are ready to continue this page.
Let's get started, it's a long road. I'll wait if you want to reread the instructions. I had to rewrite them because I couldn't follow them.
This map shows La.1 north of Shreveport. Its course is almost completely flat running as I remember. I know that other crops are grown now, but, cotton was king when I traveled it. I'll bet there's some wheat out there now. I don't think I have any digital pictures of the area. I'll look around. You will notice the Red River to the east of La.1 and all the lakes to its west. I don't know the geological history of that area. Those lakes could be old river routes or in line with tributaries to the Red River. As you go west from La.1 above Shreveport, you get into the hills of Texas and out of the Red's Valley. I almost forgot mentioning the historical oil boom of extreme northwest Louisiana. Oil City was named accordingly. Vivian, my wife's friend, claims to be the source of that other town's name. Don't believe her.
Of note, this is not on Wikipedia for a reason.
Shreveport to Natchitoches
Look how close the Red River is to the road. The levee is often in sight of it. Pecans and cotton were the main crops at one time. Old cotton gins are often seen as reminders of "progress", or more realistically, now versus then. I have fond memories of this road. It meant we were getting closer to my grandparents' homes and I wouldn't be car sick much longer.
Nachitoches to Alexandria.
La.1 actually gets a bit away from the river here and into the hills. To the west is the Kisatchie Highlands, or correctly, the Kisatchie Wold. This area is so rich in history I would not know where to start. Nachitoches is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. There's a start. During the Civil War, Generals Banks and Smith burned this whole area as they retreated from the Battle of Mansfield. Then they burned Alexandria. Banks would get his. What a scoundrel. Even the Yankees were ashamed of him.
Links removed.
Alexandria to Simmesport
La.1 entered Alexandria from the north in a funnel between the river and the hills.
It leaves Alexandria still tucked up next to the Red River with the levee only a few feet away in places. This is very interesting country. There is one town named Poland and another named Heaven. On one trip I was given that choice. I guess you know which one I chose since I not writing from some cloud though I seem to be in one at times. Again, the little towns have so much history and the place is just gorgeous. Remember the rule, if you want history and spectacular natural beauty, follow the water. Louisiana has a lot of water. The old bayous that once brought steamboats from the Atchafalaya and Red River cross this country. The maze is amazing. Leave La.1 at Hamburg and visit the old Sarto Bridge on 451. It's in an area called Big Bend.
Links removed.
Simmesport to New Roads
Simply, this is Pointe Coupee Country.
Being tied to the river ("the river" can only mean one river in LA).....
Again. Being tied to the river, this area's history goes as far back as there were
humans traveling that river. That's far. I forgot to mention, speaking of ancient humans, that there are Indian Mounds and a museum at Marksville, south of Alexandria. (by the casiono, LeRoy)
Links removed.
New Road to Baton Rouge
New Roads is a "something else". Ride the ferry to St.Francisville soon. It is disappearing Louisiana. Tour New Roads, ride around False River. There is an air about New Roads and its inhabitants. I think New Roads might better exemplify the town in "Steel Magnolias" better than Natchitoches does. But, then I'm not that acquainted with the folks up there. I've been to the Mardi Gras ball in New Roads at the country club after an all day of Mardi Grasing. Those people can throw a party.
The ferry is now gone.
South of New roads, La.1 rides the bank of False River, then joins US 190 for a featureless ride to the Mississippi, north of Baton Route. This route should be avoided and 415 taken south of New Road to where it crosses US 190 and meets La.1 again. On 415 you will be riding next to the Mississippi River with all the positives that go with its proximity.
Baton Rouge to Donalsonville
La.1, in most places is four lane on this streth. The towns of Plaquemine is worth a long stop. See all the historic buildings and the Plaquemine Locks. I keep using the word "treasue". It applies here. There is also a functioning ferry that crosses the Mississippi across the levee from downtown, if that's your pleasure, is mine.
Donaldsonville is another old town which I have not explored that much. It is rich in Civil War history as it is where the Yankees assembled for their marches into South Louisiana. It is the location of the Source of Bayou Lafourche, a distributary of the Mississippi River, or, part of the old delta. A distributary is where a branch leaves a river carrying that source's water.
Thanks Lonnie Roberts for all you taught me.
La.1 follows that distributary and the highground its yearly flooding provided. It should be reconnected to the river so sediment could go south and save our coastline.
Donaldsonville to Raceland (US90)
There are more great old towns on both sides of the Bayou Lafourche. Ride 1 down and La.308 back up. See it all. There is a huge old sugar mill still functioning at Raceland. This is sugarcane country. Below US 90, the strip of land gets a bit narrow. The bayou gets much larger by the time you get to Lockport. There the water has become the source of commerce.
Raceland to Grand Isle
Huge sugarcane fields meld into a slender ridge of land that juts into the swamp which changes to a slender ridge of land that juts into the marsh which ends at the Gulf where a bridge takes you high over the bayou for a view of "lands" end and the promise of more miles on the barrier island of Grand Isle.
The whole scene is unexplainable and overpowering. I can understand those that are mesmerized by the sea. I am, too. The marsh,being a sea of grass, is likewise mesmerizing. It is likewise unexplainable and overpowering. It seems I'm at a loss for words and overpowered pretty often. Am I a submissive idiot?
That is the last of MY NOTES. I will be linking my rides on La.1 to this page as I find them. The only portions I won't have documented are from Natchitoches north.
All that is below comes from Wikipedia and its links. Use is allowed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_numbered_highways_in_Louisiana
Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1) is a state highway in Louisiana that serves the following parishes (from south to north):
Jefferson
Lafourche
Assumption
Ascension
Iberville
West Baton Rouge
Pointe Coupee
Avoyelles
Rapides
Natchitoches
Red River
Caddo
At 436.20 miles (702.00 km), it is the longest numbered highway of any class in Louisiana. It runs diagonally across the state, connecting the oil and gas fields near Grand Isle with the northwest corner of the state, north of Shreveport.
The part south of U.S. Highway 90 near Raceland is Corridor 44, a National Highway System High Priority Corridor. From Alexandria to Shreveport, the LA 1 corridor was used for Interstate 49.Contents
1 Route description
2 See also
3 References
4 External links
Route description
Louisiana 1 sign in South Louisiana
The southern terminus of LA 1 (29.2603° N 89.9637° W) is at a dead end in Grand Isle on the south bank of Bayou Rigaud. It heads southwest and west through Grand Isle, turning northwest where it meets LA 3090 (the road to Port Fourchon). At Leeville the road crosses Bayou Lafourche on the Leeville Bridge and begins to parallel the bayou on its west bank, heading through towns such as Lockport, Raceland, Thibodaux, Napoleonville and Paincourtville. At Donaldsonville, where the bayou meets the Mississippi River, LA 1 turns northwest to parallel the river. (Southeast of Donaldsonville, LA 18 and LA 3089/LA 3127 parallel the Mississippi.)
From Donaldsonville to Port Allen, across the Mississippi from Baton Rouge, LA 1 generally parallels the Mississippi River. It takes a relatively straight inland route, bypassing the curves of the river followed by LA 405 and LA 988. At Port Allen, it meets U.S. Highway 190 at the west end of the Huey P. Long Bridge, and turns west with US 190 to past Erwinville. There it turns back north, running along several back channels and oxbows of the Mississippi to New Roads (which is bypassed by LA 3131), and then heading west from New Roads to Morganza with LA 10 (still paralleling the Mississippi). From Morganza to Lettsworth, LA 1 heads northwest near the Mississippi; LA 15 begins in Lettsworth and continues north along the river while LA 1 continues generally northwest towards Alexandria.
LA 1 heads inland through such towns as Moreauville and Marksville to Alexandria, where it meets the Pineville Expressway (U.S. Highway 165/LA 28). LA 1 turns southwest along its frontage roads - Fulton Street and Casson Street - along with LA 28 Business and U.S. Highway 167 Business to its end at Interstate 49, and continues southwest on Mason Street and northwest on Bolton Avenue.
From Alexandria to Shreveport, LA 1 generally parallels Interstate 49, including a bypass around Natchitoches. Louisiana Highway 1 Business runs through downtown Natchitoches before rejoining the original highway just northwest of the city limits. It passes through Shreveport on Youree Drive, Spring Street and Market Street, running concurrently with U.S. Highway 71 from Interstate 20 downtown to a split north of downtown. From Shreveport to the border with Texas, where LA 1 becomes State Highway 77, LA 1 passes through towns such as Oil City, Vivian and Rodessa.