1962 Map of Crystal Springs

About this map

Lake Ouachita dominates the northern half of this landscape, its complex shoreline and islands reflecting the flooded valley of the Ouachita River. In the early 1960s, the area shows a clear division between the recreational waters of the reservoir and the heavily forested ridges of the Ouachita National Forest. Several established settlements persist near the water's edge, including Buckville and Crystal Springs, with family-history landmarks like Buckville Cem and Brooks Cem providing ties to the pre-inundation period. South of the water, the terrain rises sharply into Bear Mountain and Hickorynut Mountain, separating the lake from the more settled Crystal Valley. Here, local life is anchored by small institutions such as the Valley Sch, the Church of God, and the community of Bear, which sits tucked between the ridges near the banks of Bear Creek.