1971 Map of Melder

About this map

The Calcasieu River meanders southward through this 1971 landscape, defining the character of western Rapides Parish. Much of the area is enveloped by the Kisatchie National Forest, where the topography is shaped by a dense network of tributaries including Goodman Branch, Lemeuse Creek, and Blounts Creek. Small rural communities and church-centered settlements like Melder and Calcasieu are linked by winding roads and an Old Railroad Grade that speaks to the era's timber or industrial transit patterns. Local history is anchored by numerous spiritual and memorial sites, such as Oak Grove Ch, Peniel Ch, and St Mark Cem. Near the southern boundary, the Sunset Lookout Tower stands as a sentinel over the forest, while the presence of several Gravel Pits indicates the local extractive industry during the early 1970s.