1954 Map of Florien

About this map

The Kansas City Southern railroad serves as the industrial spine for this mid-century survey of western Louisiana, connecting the timber-associated settlements of Fisher, Florien, and Hornbeck. While the rail corridor anchors the western half of the landscape, the east is dominated by the Fort Polk Military Reservation, featuring the Peason Ridge Artillery Range. This military expansion pushed up against established rural life, as seen in the numerous community landmarks like the Plainview School and Liberty Chapel. For genealogists, the map is remarkably dense with family-linked sites, including the Beckham Cem, Sibley Cem, and the Prewitts Chapel Cem. Terrain varies from the high vantage of Eagle Hill and the Peason Fire Tower to the complex wetlands of La Nana Grant and the Monks Hammock, illustrating a landscape in transition between traditional agriculture and modern federal use.