1935 Map of Alto

About this map

The Boeuf River snakes through the heart of this North Louisiana landscape, defining the transition between Richland Parish, Ouachita Parish, and Franklin Parish. During the mid-1930s, this region was a nexus of river-and-rail industry, featuring the Century Carbon Company and International Gas Products Company Inc along the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The map reveals a deeply intersected territory where the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley (Illinois Central) Railroad crosses Bayou Crew near Rayville. Notable for genealogists are the numerous scattered settlements and family-named landmarks, such as Rhymes Store and Ellwood Place, along with the Douciere Ferry on the western edge. The presence of the Magnolia Gas Line and United Gas Corporation facilities highlights the era's growing natural gas infrastructure amid the traditional plantation and small-town economy.