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1957 Map of Columbia

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Columbia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Ouachita River defines the landscape of Caldwell Parish in this mid-century survey, its winding course creating a complex network of oxbows and backwaters like Horseshoe Lake, Brandon Lake, and Humble Lake. The river-valley economy is anchored by Columbia, while the industrial presence of the Missouri Pacific railroad runs parallel to the waterway, connecting the timber-heavy terrain around Clarks and Grayson. Evidence of much older habitation is marked by the Indian Mound near the eastern bank, contrasting with modern infrastructure like the Micro-wave Tower and Mt Pleasant Lookout Tower.

Away from the river, the west is dominated by the drainages of Bayou Castor and Richland Creek, where rural community life is visible through scattered landmarks such as New Testament Ch, Ward 5 Ch, and the Welcome Home Cem. The transition from the alluvial flats of Bayou Lafourche to the forested hills provides a clear view of how topography influenced settlement patterns, from the organized grids of logging towns to the isolated churches and schools that served the surrounding countryside.