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1973 Map of Atomic City

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Atomic City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Atomic City stands at the center of this 1970s landscape, positioned along the border of Butte Co and Bingham Co. This high desert region is defined by extensive Lava flows and the footprint of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, which occupies a large portion of the northern and eastern terrain. The presence of the Midway Airport and restricted zones reflects the area's specialized role in national research during the Cold War era.

Surface features are sparse, characterized by landmarks like Table Legs Butte and isolated water sources such as the Cottontail Waterhole and Leo Rogers Well. Transport across this remote volcanic plain is facilitated by U S 20 and the Union Pacific railroad, which cuts through the southwestern corner near Ryegrass Flat. The map provides a detailed view of the infrastructure supporting this unique scientific community, including several Borrow Pits and various unnamed jeep trails.