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1959 Map of Merryville

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Merryville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Sabine River forms the central spine of this 1950s landscape, serving as the border between Newton County, Texas, and Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The river's winding course is marked by numerous oxbow features like Horseshoe Lake and Moon Lake, while the surrounding bottomlands are defined by complex drainage systems including Quicksand Creek and Yellow Bayou. This era shows a region transitioning between timber, agriculture, and energy, with the Merryville Oil Field positioned near the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad corridor.

Local settlements and family landmarks provide significant depth for genealogical research. Communities such as Shankleville, Wiergate, and Merryville are well-documented alongside numerous rural focal points like Spears Chapel, St Luke Ch, and Hennigan Cem. The presence of the Burkeville Lookout Tower and Bon Wier Lookout Tower highlights the importance of forest management in this heavily wooded borderland, while multiple Gravel Pits suggest the active extraction industries of the mid-century.