1953 Map of Banks

About this map

The confluence of the Payette River and the South Fork Payette River serves as the central focal point for this 1953 survey, where the settlement of Banks sits at the junction of rail and water. The Union Pacific line follows the river corridor, a critical transport link through the deep valleys of the Boise National Forest. To the west, the landscape rises toward Dry Buck Mountain and the high-elevation basin of High Valley, where the presence of the High Valley Ranger Station and several abandoned school sites reflects a shifting rural population. Local history is anchored by the Pinehurst Church and the Brownlee Cem near the southern boundary. This map captures the area before modern development, detailing the network of trails such as the Dry Buck Trail and remote landmarks like Lone Pine Lake and Mud Lake.