1941 Map of Boyce

About this map

The Red River winds through the heart of Rapides Parish, defining a landscape of fertile alluvial bottoms and expansive timberlands. During the early 1940s, this region was characterized by a distinct plantation economy and early aviation development, as evidenced by the Alexandria Municipal Airport, then noted as being under construction. Significant agricultural estates like Santiago Plantation, Bynum Plantation, and Village Plantation border the river, while the higher ground is dominated by the Kisatchie National Forest Catahoula Division. This survey provides a rare look at the institutional and rural social structures of the era, from the sprawling grounds of the Central La Hospital For Insane to numerous localized centers of faith and education such as St Matthias Ch & Sch and Tabernacle Ch & Sch. Railroad corridors, including the Texas and Pacific RR, connect river towns like Boyce and Zimmerman to the broader regional markets.