1954 Map of Kurthwood

About this map

Fort Polk Military Reservation and the Kisatchie National Forest dominate this mid-century landscape in western Louisiana. The map reveals a transition from active military utility at the Peason Ridge Artillery Range to the quiet local landmarks of rural Vernon Parish. Evidence of the region's timber history is visible through several stretches of dismantled railroad that once serviced the sawmills of central Louisiana, connecting small communities like Kurthwood and Fisherville. Several historic congregations are marked, including Kurthwood Church, Sunny Hill Church, and Stivers Creek Church, alongside the West Cemetery. The presence of a fire tower, a landing strip, and an oil tank reflects the industrial and protective infrastructure required for the dense forest terrain near the Calcasieu River.