1956 Map of DeRidder

About this map

De Ridder serves as the central hub for this mid-century western Louisiana landscape, where the convergence of several major rail lines defined the regional economy. The Kansas City Southern, Southern Pacific, and Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe railroads crisscross the parish, supporting timber and agricultural interests. Evidence of the area's industrial past is visible through multiple segments of Old Logging Railroad Grade that branch into the surrounding timberlands near Ludington and Carson. Small rural centers such as Grabow and Bon Ami appear alongside local landmarks like Pine Ridge Ch and Old Hickman Sch. The terrain is defined by a dense network of waterways, including Hickory Branch and Cowpen Creek, which shaped the early development of these Beauregard Parish communities.