1961 Map of Erick

About this map

The Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad forms the industrial spine of this Beckham County landscape, connecting the agricultural hubs of Erick and Texola along the Texas-Oklahoma border. In the early 1960s, Erick served as a prominent local center, featuring a concentrated grid with a Drive-in Theater, Hospital, and Haddock Airport nearby. The terrain transitions from the developed rail corridor in the north to the dissected drainage systems of the Elm Fork Red River in the south, where the Gaging Station and Salt Works indicate the river's importance to the local economy and environment. Genealogists can locate several rural burial sites, including Munnerson Cem, Davis Cem, and Texola Cem. The map captures a moment of mid-century infrastructure, balancing the established rail network with the emerging presence of decentralized rural landmarks and river-based industry.