1959 Map of Oden

About this map

The Ouachita River carves a winding path through the center of this 1950s survey, marking the lifeblood of a landscape defined by the Ouachita National Forest. Settlements like Oden and Pine Ridge serve as focal points for the surrounding rural communities, where life centered on small country churches and family burial grounds. The presence of the Ranger Station and the Gaston Lookout Tower atop Gaston Mountain underscores the importance of forestry management in this period. Local genealogy is well-represented through numerous family-named landmarks, including the Goodner Cem, Edwards Cem, and Huddleston Cem. From the heights of Mill Creek Mountain to the waters of the South Fork Ouachita River, the map documents a network of creeks and ridges that shaped the movement and settlement of the Ouachita region before more modern developments altered the character of these isolated valleys.