1938 Map of Lake End

About this map

Red River meanders sharply through this 1938 landscape, defining the borders between De Soto, Red River, and Natchitoches Parishes. The era's transportation network is dominated by the Texas and Pacific Railway and the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway, which serve riverfront settlements like Lake End and Hanna. The map reveals a deeply established rural community, evidenced by numerous local landmarks including Walnut Ridge School and Union Hall School, alongside several congregations such as Antioch Church and Pilgrim Star Church. To the west, the complex hydrology of the floodplains is visible through a network of bayous and cutoffs, including the Hollingsworth Cutoff and Pierre Bayou. This survey documents a critical period of transition as State Highway 71 and 1 begins to supersede the older river and rail routes.