Colyell Bay, Livingston and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue



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From the book entitled "The Free State - A History and Place-Names Study
of Livingston Parish" by the members of the Livingston Parish American
Revolution Bicentennial Committee in cooperation with the Livingston 
Parish Police Jury and the Louisiana American Revolution Bicentennial
Commission, 1976.  Reprinted by permission.  Dedicated to the memory of
Reuben Cooper and Raymond Riggs.

COLYELL BAY is named for Francisco Collel who was the commandant of 

Galveztown in 1779. (1)  Colyell Bay is the larges tributary to the

Amite River on its east side.

     It is best located as the dividing line for the villages of Port

Vincent and French Settlement on La. Hwy. 16 where there is a bridge.

The present bridge is the second one for the crossing.  The first one

was constructed in such a way that the center could be raised for boats

to pass underneath.  Before this time a fery was hand operated by cables

which were stretched across the Bay.

     The head of Colyell Bay is in Section 9, T8S-R4E where it receives

an abundant supply of fresh drainage water from West, Middle, Colyell

and Little Colyell Creeks.  These creeks drain approximately one fourth

of the Parish. (2)

     Middle Colyell Creek had its beginning in T4S-R3E of St. Helena Parish.

The rest of this group all begin within the boundaries of Livingston Parish.

     There have been a number of landings on both sides of Colyell Bay where

logs could be loaded on ox carts or logging trucks.  The value of this

tributary of the Amite River cannot be over emphasized.  They depended on it

for transportation, fishing, trapping, floating of logs to the sawmills and

for a source of water during a dry season when the cisterns went dry.  Today,

with its moss-draped trees along a winding swamp setting, it offers scenic

beauty to boat riders and good fishing for the sportsman. --- Lucille Cooper.
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(1) Louisiana Historical Quarterly, Vol. 13, p. 569.
(2) Livingston Parish Resources and Facilities, Department of Public Works.

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