1957 Map of Lecompte

About this map

The Red River corridor southeast of Alexandria defines this mid-century landscape, where a dense network of bayous and sloughs supports a rich agricultural and timber economy. Heavy rail infrastructure, including the Rock Island and Pacific and Texas and Pacific, links established settlements like Lecompte and Cheneyville to the regional market. To the west, the Alexandria State Forest provides a contrast to the plantation lands, housing the Fish Hatchery and numerous early spiritual sites like Mt Lebanon Ch. Family and community history is preserved in a high concentration of cemeteries, such as Spring Hill Cem and Hawkins Cem, which sit alongside the Louisiana Meridian. The map captures the transition from old river-bottom plantations to modern research hubs like the Dean Lee Agricultural Center, all while maintaining its complex water-bound geography through features like Bayou Boeuf and Chatlin Lake.