1957 Map of Bay Center

About this map

Willapa Bay dominates this coastal landscape, where the shifting sands and intricate channels define the maritime life of the 1950s. The settlement of Bay Center sits prominently on the eastern shore near Goose Point, adjacent to Bush Pacific Pioneer State Park. Across the water to the northwest, the community of Tokeland occupies a narrow spit of land near the U.S. Coast Guard Res. and Toke Point. The map provides a detailed view of the complex hydrography of the region, including the Bay Center Cutoff Channel and the Russell Channel. To the east, the terrain rises into hills drained by the Bone River and Niawiakum River. Significant land use is noted at Holton Ranch and the historic area of Bruceport, reflecting the long-standing importance of this oyster-rich estuary to local Pacific County economies.