1960 Map of Eva

About this map

Black River meanders through a dense network of swampy brakes and bayous along the borders of Catahoula and Concordia Parish at the turn of the 1960s. This survey records an active extraction economy, highlighting extensive petroleum operations such as the Larto Lake Oil Field and the South Larto Lake Oil Field that pepper the landscape with wells and access roads. The alluvial character of the terrain is evident in the numerous oxbow lakes and sloughs, including Cynthia Bayou Lake and Black River Lake, which dictate the placement of small rural communities like Mayna and New Era. Evidence of earlier history and local genealogy is scattered throughout the bottomlands, from the ancient Indian Mound to family landmarks like Palo Alto Cem and Hedrick Cem. An Old Railroad Grade cuts across the southeast, marking a former transportation corridor that once served the timber or rail needs of these river settlements.