1943 Map of Provencal

About this map

The Red River and the meandering Cane River Lake dominate the eastern reaches of this Natchitoches Parish landscape, illustrating the complex hydrology of the central Louisiana lowlands. Settlement patterns follow the corridor of the Texas and Pacific RR, which connects communities like Provencal, Flora, and Cypress. In the more elevated western terrain, much of the area is occupied by the Kisatchie National Forest, where smaller settlements such as Bellwood are positioned along the winding Bayou Santabarb. This 1940s-era documentation highlights a deeply rural economy punctuated by numerous community institutions, including the Rockford Sch and Harmony Ch. Genealogy and local history researchers will find a wealth of specific landmarks, from the Fish Hatchery near the Natchitoches Airport to family-named sites like Roberts Cem and Jackson Cem.