1947 Map of Bivens

About this map

The Sabine River forms the western boundary of this landscape, winding through a complex network of wetlands and oxbows such as Horseshoe Lake and Alligator Lake. The geography of the late 1930s and 1940s is defined by the transition from riverine commerce to inland timber and agriculture. In the south, the settlement of Bivens is anchored by Green Oak Ch and Boxwood Ch, while Merryville serves as the primary hub to the north. A significant relic of the region's industrial past is visible in the numerous segments of the Old Logging Railroad Grade, which crisscross the territory east of Johnson. These rail beds, alongside drainage features like Hoosier Creek and Pullem Branch, illustrate the systematic clearing and development of the Louisiana piney woods before the modernization of the local highway system.