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1945 Map of Provencal

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Provencal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Cane River Lake and the serpentine curves of the Red River dominate the eastern landscape of this 1940s survey, illustrating a classic Louisiana delta environment where water dictates the patterns of settlement. The Texas and Pacific RR serves as a primary transit spine, connecting the communities of Provencal, Cypress, and Flora. Evidence of the region's timber and agricultural heritage is visible through the Logging RR spurs and the numerous family-named landmarks and country churches, such as Hickory Grove Ch and St Charles Ch, which anchor the rural neighborhoods.

Dense bottomlands and upland woods within the Kisatchie National Forest contrast with the cultivated plains near Bermuda and Natchez. Genealogists and local historians can trace specific landmarks like Roberts Cem, Pratts Bridge, and the Bayou Gorum Post Office, which provide precise locations for vanished or evolved rural sites. The map also documents essential early infrastructure, from the Fish Hatchery near Natchitoches to the various benchmarks and crossings that once facilitated commerce across the many bayous.