1955 Map of Shreveport

About this map

The Red River corridor defines the western landscape of this mid-century survey, anchoring the growing urban centers of Shreveport and Bossier City. This era shows a region balancing heavy industrial and military infrastructure with vast timber and recreational lands. To the east of the city, Barksdale Air Force Base and the Louisiana Ordnance Plant represent the massive federal footprint in the area during the early Cold War years. The northern and central portions are heavily forested, home to portions of the Kisatchie National Forest and the newly established D'Arbonne Lake. Significant educational institutions like Louisiana Tech University in Ruston and Grambling State University appear alongside an intricate rail network, including the Illinois Central Railroad and the Kansas City Southern Railway. From the bayous of Caddo Parish to the Ouachita River at Monroe, the map captures North Louisiana's transition from a rural, river-based economy to a modern industrial and transportation hub.