1951 Map of Bernice

About this map

Bernice serves as the central hub for this portion of Union Parish at the mid-century, where the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad creates a clear north-south axis through the piney woods. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of watercourses, including the Middle Fork Bayou D'Arbonne and Corney Creek, which dictate the placement of smaller settlements like Lillie and Randolph. This era of the 1950s shows a high density of rural institutions that anchored these dispersed communities, from the Mt Tabor Sch to numerous country churches like Evergreen Ch and Canaan Ch. Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of family-named landmarks and resting places, such as Taylor Cem and Hard Shell Cem, which reflect the localized history of North Louisiana before modern consolidation changed the rural social structure.