1983 Map of Effie

About this map

The Red River winds through the heart of the central Louisiana lowlands, creating a landscape defined by oxbow lakes and meandering bayous. This early 1980s document reveals a network of small rural settlements including Effie, Fifth Ward, and Center Point, where local life centered around country churches and schools. The placement of Our Lady of Lourdes Ch and St Winifred Ch alongside family burial grounds like Pierce Cem provides significant data for genealogists tracking local ancestry in the parish. The map captures the transitional period of the regional economy, where water bodies such as Bordelon Lake and Gin Lake sit adjacent to Rays Landing Strip. The boundary between Rapides Parish and Avoyelles Parish follows the natural watercourses, illustrating how the swampy terrain of Wiggins Bayou and Prairie Bayou dictated historical political borders.