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1953 Map of Alexandria

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Alexandria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Alexandria and Pineville anchor the heart of Central Louisiana in this mid-century survey, sitting at a critical bend where the Red River transitions through the floodplain. The landscape is defined by the massive expansion of the Toledo Bend Reservoir along the western border and the sprawling woodlands of the Kisatchie National Forest. The presence of England Air Force Base and Fort Polk Military Reservation reflects the region's significant military footprint during the Cold War era.

Industrial and transport networks are prominent, with the Illinois Central Gulf and Kansas City Southern railroads threading through timber country and connecting smaller parish seats like Winnfield and Leesville. To the east, the seasonal fluctuations of Catahoula Lake and the complex bayou systems of the Avoyelles Parish border illustrate a traditional riverine economy still deeply tied to the land.