1937 Map of Campti NW

About this map

Red River floodplains and intricate bayou networks define this 1937 landscape along the border of Natchitoches and Red River Parishes. Small agricultural settlements like Grappes Bluff and Messick anchor a rural society served by several local institutions, including Bethany Ch and the Bright Morning Star Sch. The survey captures a transition in transportation, showing the Texas and Pacific railroad running parallel to the river near Powhatan, while numerous secondary roads connect dispersed farmsteads and family landmarks like Sims Cem. Natural water features such as Lake Poule d'Eau, Yarborough Lake, and Grand Bayou illustrate the complex hydrology of the valley before modern flood control significantly altered these drainage patterns. The presence of Zion Hill Sch and Bethlehem Sch suggests a community well-distributed across the fertile but swampy bottomlands of Hickory Nut Ridge.