1950s Maps of Cowlitz County, Washington

Explore 25 historic maps of Cowlitz County from the 1950s. These maps offer a rare glimpse into what life looked like during the 1950s — showing old roads, neighborhoods, homes, and landmarks that have changed or disappeared over time.

Whether you're researching your family's past, planning a metal detecting trip, or studying how Cowlitz County's landscape evolved across the 1950s, these high-resolution maps are a powerful tool for exploring the history of this region.

  • Focus on a specific era: All maps on this page are from the 1950s, giving you a focused view of this time period.
  • See what’s changed: Compare century-old streets, trails, and buildings to today's modern landscape using overlays and satellite layers.
  • Research with precision: Use these maps for genealogy, historical research, land use analysis, or educational projects.
  • View, download, or print: Maps are fully viewable online in high resolution, and can be downloaded or printed for your own records.

Start exploring Cowlitz County's history through authentic maps from the 1950s. This is your window into the past.


Cowlitz County, WA maps

(25)
  1. 1950 Map of Vancouver
    1950 Map of Vancouver
    1950 Vancouver
    1950 Print · USGS
    Coastal Oregon and the lower Columbia River valley are captured in detail just after the war. Researchers can trace historic rail routes like the Southern Pacific or locate early settlements such as Vernonia, Gaston, and the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation.

  2. 1950 Map of Vancouver, 1951 Print
    1950 Map of Vancouver, 1951 Print
    1950 Vancouver
    1951 Print · USGS
    The Pacific Northwest urban corridor meets the rugged coast in the years following the war, showing the expansion of Portland and Vancouver. Genealogists and historians can trace the reach of the Southern Pacific RR and locate coastal communities like Tillamook, Seaside, and Tolovana Park.

  3. 1952 Map of Clatskanie, 1954 Print
    1952 Map of Clatskanie, 1954 Print
    1952 Clatskanie
    1954 Print · USGS
    The lower Columbia River basin comes to life in the early fifties, showing the intricate dikes and rail lines of the Oregon and Washington border. Genealogists can locate family sites at Bryant Cemetery or trace the vanished streets of Swedetown.
    3 unique versions available

  4. 1953 Map of Hoquiam
    1953 Map of Hoquiam
    1953 Hoquiam
    1953 Print · USGS
    Southwest Washington in the early fifties shows a landscape shaped by timber, rail, and river commerce from the coast to the Cascades. Genealogists and historians can trace the development of timber towns like Ryderwood and the industrial hubs of Hoquiam and Kelso.
    2 unique versions available

  5. 1953 Map of Toutle, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Toutle, 1955 Print
    1953 Toutle
    1955 Print · USGS
    Cowlitz County’s timber-driven landscape comes into focus during the early fifties as logging operations expanded through the river valleys. Researchers can trace the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co Railroad, locate the Toutle Lake School, and find old sites like Eden Valley or the Windom Mine.
    3 unique versions available

  6. 1953 Map of Castle Rock, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Castle Rock, 1955 Print
    1953 Castle Rock
    1955 Print · USGS
    The Cowlitz River valley in the early fifties shows a busy corridor of rail lines and river settlements. Genealogists can locate several family cemeteries and former rural school sites like the Wayside Sch and Lone Hill Cemetery near Toledo.
    2 unique versions available

  7. 1953 Map of Mt. Brynion, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Mt. Brynion, 1955 Print
    1953 Mt. Brynion
    1955 Print · USGS
    Cowlitz County timber country is captured here in the early fifties, showing the transition from river valleys to high logging ridges. Researchers can trace the path of the Private Railroad and locate landmarks like the Coweman River Gaging Sta and Rose Valley.
    4 unique versions available

  8. 1953 Map of Ryderwood, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Ryderwood, 1955 Print
    1953 Ryderwood
    1955 Print · USGS
    The logging country of Lewis and Cowlitz counties is documented here in the early fifties as industrial rail gave way to trucking. Trace the transition of the company town Ryderwood, find the Snow Cem burial site, or locate the Dismantled Railroad corridors.
    3 unique versions available

  9. 1953 Map of Pigeon Springs, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Pigeon Springs, 1955 Print
    1953 Pigeon Springs
    1955 Print · USGS
    Cowlitz County’s timberlands and river headwaters are captured here in the early fifties, showing a remote landscape of logging camps and forest stations. You can locate early outposts like Pigeon Springs and Camp Coweman or trace mountain landmarks from Monument Peak to Washougal Falls.
    3 unique versions available

  10. 1953 Map of Rainier, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Rainier, 1955 Print
    1953 Rainier
    1955 Print · USGS
    The Columbia River waterfront at the start of the fifties reveals a heavy industrial corridor between Oregon and Washington. Genealogists and local historians can locate early landmarks like Hudson Cem, Neer City Sch, and the Reuben (site).
    4 unique versions available

  11. 1953 Map of Kalama, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Kalama, 1955 Print
    1953 Kalama
    1955 Print · USGS
    The Columbia River corridor in the early fifties shows a bustling network of rail and river commerce. Genealogists can trace the rural life of Rose Valley through the Rose Valley School and locate ancestors at Mt Pleasant Cem.
    5 unique versions available

  12. 1953 Map of Kelso, 1955 Print
    1953 Map of Kelso, 1955 Print
    1953 Kelso
    1955 Print · USGS
    The industrial corridor of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers comes alive in the mid-1950s, showing the early development of the Longview-Kelso area. Researchers can trace the layout of local institutions like R A Long HS or find rural landmarks like Sandy Bend School and Huntington Rock.
    3 unique versions available

  13. 1953 Map of Cougar, 1958 Print
    1953 Map of Cougar, 1958 Print
    1953 Cougar
    1958 Print · USGS
    The foothills of the Cascades come to life in the early 1950s, showing the early infrastructure of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Genealogists and historians can trace the local timber economy through the Sawmill near Cougar and the original sites of the Kalama Ranger Sta and Herrington Place (Site).
    4 unique versions available

  14. 1953 Map of Elk Rock, 1958 Print
    1953 Map of Elk Rock, 1958 Print
    1953 Elk Rock
    1958 Print · USGS
    Cowlitz County’s timber-driven landscape comes into focus in the early fifties, showing the extensive logging camps and rail networks of the day. Researchers can locate remote sites like Camp Baker, trace the Spirit Lake Highway, or find early landmarks like the Shingle Mill and Elk Rock Lookout.
    3 unique versions available

  15. 1954 Map of Ridgefield, 1956 Print
    1954 Map of Ridgefield, 1956 Print
    1954 Ridgefield
    1956 Print · USGS
    Ridgefield and La Center sit at the heart of Clark County in the mid-fifties, shaped by the winding courses of the Lewis River and its East Fork. Genealogists and historians can trace early school sites and local landmarks like Mt Zion Cemetery, Bethel Church, and the Pekin Ferry Road.
    3 unique versions available

  16. 1954 Map of Deer Island, 1956 Print
    1954 Map of Deer Island, 1956 Print
    1954 Deer Island
    1956 Print · USGS
    The Columbia River shoreline near Columbia City and Woodland is captured here in the mid-fifties. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named roads like McBride Road and locate sites like Caples Landing (Site) or the Ferndale Sch (Abandoned).
    3 unique versions available

  17. 1954 Map of St. Helens, 1957 Print
    1954 Map of St. Helens, 1957 Print
    1954 St. Helens
    1957 Print · USGS
    The Columbia River waterfront at St. Helens and Scappoose is shown in the mid-fifties, just as the regional transport network was maturing. Researchers can trace old property access via Robinette Road or locate vanished landmarks like the McBride Sch and Ridgefield Ferry.
    3 unique versions available

  18. 1954 Map of La Center, 1957 Print
    1954 Map of La Center, 1957 Print
    1954 La Center
    1957 Print · USGS
    The Clark and Cowlitz county borderlands in the mid-1950s show a mix of river-valley agriculture and rugged uplands. Researchers can trace rural school consolidation at Enterprise Sch or locate ancestors at Highland Cem and Dublin Cem.
    2 unique versions available

  19. 1954 Map of St Helens, 1962 Print
    1954 Map of St Helens, 1962 Print
    1954 St Helens
    1962 Print · USGS
    The Columbia River waterfront and its surrounding timberlands are captured here in the mid-1950s. Genealogists and researchers can trace the locations of rural schools and landmarks like the Wilark Guard Station, Shiloh Basin Cemetery, and Bachelor Flat.
    2 unique versions available

  20. 1956 Map of Yacolt, 1958 Print
    1956 Map of Yacolt, 1958 Print
    1956 Yacolt
    1958 Print · USGS
    In the mid-1950s, the Clark County foothills were a landscape of logging camps and river power before the height of modernization. Researchers can trace the Northern Pacific Railroad route or locate family sites at Gravel Point Cem and the settlement of Venersborg.
    2 unique versions available

  21. 1957 Map of Hoquiam
    1957 Map of Hoquiam
    1957 Hoquiam
    1957 Print · USGS
    Coastal timber ports and inland rail hubs define Southwest Washington during the late fifties. Genealogists can trace early twentieth-century settlements like Bordeaux, Tono, and Cosmopolis alongside the expanding tracks of the Northern Pacific.

  22. 1957 Map of Spirit Lake, 1959 Print
    1957 Map of Spirit Lake, 1959 Print
    1957 Spirit Lake
    1959 Print · USGS
    The Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the late fifties is captured here as a thriving hub of recreation and mining before the 1980 eruption altered the landscape. Researchers can trace historic lakeside developments like Harmony Falls Lodge or locate early industrial sites such as the Polar Star Mine and the Cowlitz Chehalis & Cascade Railroad.
    3 unique versions available

  23. 1958 Map of Mt St. Helens, 1959 Print
    1958 Map of Mt St. Helens, 1959 Print
    1958 Mt St. Helens
    1959 Print · USGS
    The peaks and forests of Skamania County appear here in the late fifties, just as the Lewis River was being transformed by hydroelectric development. Hikers and historians can trace old routes like St Helens Way and locate early camps including Butte Camp and Jackpine Shelter.
    3 unique versions available

  24. 1958 Map of Vancouver, 1968 Print
    1958 Map of Vancouver, 1968 Print
    1958 Vancouver
    1968 Print · USGS
    The Lower Columbia and Willamette valleys thrive in the late sixties as major rail and river hubs. Genealogists and historians can trace the development of Portland, identify the grounds of Camp Withycombe, and locate coastal landmarks from Tillamook Head to Garibaldi.
    3 unique versions available

  25. 1958 Map of Hoquiam, 1969 Print
    1958 Map of Hoquiam, 1969 Print
    1958 Hoquiam
    1969 Print · USGS
    Southwest Washington and the Columbia River estuary appear here in the mid-century, before major landscape shifts. Researchers can trace the rail lines of the Northern Pacific, locate the Fort Henness Site, or explore the Naselle Air Force Station.
    2 unique versions available

End of results
Showing maps 1-25 of 25

Top cities of Cowlitz County


Frequently asked questions

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