1972 Map of Rapides

About this map

England Air Force Base dominates the central landscape of this Louisiana survey, illustrating the significant military footprint near the Red River during the early 1970s. The map reveals a complex water management system where the Bayou Rapides snakes through the terrain alongside the newly forming Kincaid Reservoir, which shows blue hatching indicating areas destined for submergence. This era of transition is further marked by the proximity of the Central Louisiana State Hospital and the northern reaches of the Kisatchie National Forest. Local history is preserved through the locations of the Newlight Cem, St Matthews Ch, and the Rapides Sch, alongside industrial landmarks like the Fish Farm and the Texas and Pacific railroad lines that once served the rural settlements of Alfalfa and Weil.