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1957 Map of Lecompte

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Lecompte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The low-lying alluvial plains of Rapides Parish are defined by an intricate network of waterways like Bayou Boeuf and Bayou Lamourie as they appeared in the late 1950s. The landscape is a mix of agricultural intensity and managed timberland, with the Kisatchie National Forest and Alexander State Forest occupying the western uplands. Transport infrastructure dominates the valley floor, where the Missouri Pacific and Texas and Pacific railroads parallel the bayous, connecting settlements like Lecompte and Cheneyville.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, including numerous small burial grounds such as Meeker Cem, Spring Hill Cem, and Wise Chapel Cem. The map also documents specialized land uses of the era, from the Dean Lee Agricultural Center and a Fish Hatchery to remote points like Harris Ferry. The presence of the Ruby Lookout Tower and multiple sloughs like Turtle Slough illustrates the drainage and fire-watch systems essential to this region's mid-century economy.