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1959 Map of Bon Wier

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Bon Wier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Sabine River serves as the winding boundary between Texas and Louisiana, carving through a landscape of dense bottoms and oxbow lakes such as Horseshoe Lake and Alligator Lake. In 1959, the area around Bon Wier and Belgrade was defined by its timber and petroleum interests, with the Bancroft Oil Field and Bear Head Creek Oil Field punctuating the wooded terrain. The Santa Fe railroad line crosses the river north of Caney Island, connecting the small settlements that dot the piney woods.

Genealogists will find several burial grounds and community centers recorded, including Belgrade Cem, Whitman Cem, and Lone Pine Ch. The presence of an Old Railroad Grade and the Biloxi Sch reflects the shifting transportation and social infrastructure of the mid-20th century. Remote outposts like Fields and Merryville are anchored by fire watch infrastructure, such as the Fields Lookout Tower, emphasizing the critical nature of forest management in this riverine corridor.