1962 Map of Buena Vista

About this map

St Louis Southwestern rails cut through the northwestern corner of this Ouachita County landscape, serving the settlement of Buena Vista. The area is defined by a transition from traditional rural landmarks to a mid-century petroleum economy. Dozens of derricks and pipelines are concentrated in the south, particularly within the Gum Creek Oil and Gas Field and the Pace City Oil and Gas Field near Pace City. These industrial zones contrast with the numerous country churches and family burial grounds that anchor the community's history, such as New Bethel Ch, Good Hope Cem, and Whitefield Cem. The terrain is deeply etched by a network of waterways including Ross Creek, Beech Creek, and Smackover Cr, which forms the southern boundary between Ouachita and Union counties.