1972 Map of Rapides

About this map

England Air Force Base dominates the central landscape of this Rapides Parish region, showing a significant military presence alongside the evolving urban footprint of Alexandria. The 1972 data, updated in the early 1990s, captures the transition of rural bayou lands into specialized facilities like the Central Louisiana State Hospital and various suburban extensions. To the west, the elevation rises into the Kisatchie National Forest and the shores of Kincaid Reservoir, providing a stark contrast to the alluvial plains of the Red River. Local history is preserved through numerous small communities and landmarks like Alfalfa, Rapides, and Lamothe Bridge. A dense network of smaller waterways, including Bayou Rapides and Persimmon Bayou, reflects the complex drainage of the lowland south of the river levee, while sites like St Matthews Ch and Newlight Cem mark long-established social centers.