1953 Map of Hodge

About this map

The Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad corridor anchors the North Louisiana landscape, connecting the industrial centers of Hodge and Jonesboro with northern settlements like Quitman and Clay. This mid-century survey, with revisions from the early 1970s, captures a rural economy defined by timber and transit, evidenced by an Old Railroad Grade winding through the western hills. The map is particularly dense with community landmarks significant to family researchers, from the Saints Rest Sch to various rural congregations such as Beech Springs Ch and Hebron Ch. The terrain is shaped by the Dugdemona River and its numerous tributaries, including Sugar Bayou and Keppler Creek. Strategic points like the Vernon Lookout Tower and scattered gas wells reflect the region's managed forests and emerging energy extraction during this era of development.