2022 Map of Hortense

About this map

Small family burial grounds and winding watercourses define this pocket of the East Texas Piney Woods in Polk County. The landscape is largely rural and wooded, marked by a high density of small cemeteries such as Beard Cem, Feagin Cem, and Center Grove Chapel Cem. These sites, often situated near family-named landmarks like Beard Xing, serve as significant markers for genealogists tracing early residents of the area. The settlement of Mentone sits near the headwaters of Bear Creek and Smith Creek, part of a complex drainage network that includes Big Sandy Creek and Mill Creek. The road system, including FM 942 and numerous named loops like Baskin Loop and Wilson Loop, follows the natural contours of the terrain rather than a strict grid, reflecting the historical development of timber and agricultural interests in this region.