1959 Map of Alba

About this map

The Railroad corridors of East Texas define the mid-century landscape of this Wood County and Hopkins County border region. Small rural hubs like Alba and Yantis anchor a grid of family-owned farms and remote churches, reflecting a community structured around early petroleum development and agriculture. Local genealogists will find an incredible density of burial grounds and meeting houses, including Deaton Cem, Henry Chapel Cem, and Macedonia Ch. The map captures the industrial character of the era through the extensive Gas and Oil Field near Yantis and several pipelines that cut through the creek-fed lowlands. Significant water features like the Elm Fork and Shotgun Crossing Lake illustrate the complex hydrology of the Sabine River basin before major modern reservoir projects altered the local topography. This record documents many small settlements such as Ginger, Arbala, and Bright Star during their post-war development.