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1957 Map of Bay Center

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Bay Center
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Willapa Bay dominates this coastal landscape, where the tides dictate the geography of sprawling Tidal Flats and shifting sands. The settlement of Bay Center sits prominently on a peninsula between the Bay Center Channel and the mouth of the Palix River, serving as a focal point for maritime activity. To the north, across the water, Tokeland occupies the sheltered side of Toke Point near the U.S. Coast Guard Res., marking a long history of navigation and harbor protection in these treacherous waters.

The intricate network of channels, including Pine Island Channel and Russell Channel, winds around landforms like Ellen Sands and Kindred Island. Inland, the map documents the convergence of several major coastal streams such as the Bone River and Niawiakum River, which feed into the bay. Conservation and public lands are represented by the Smith Creek State Wildlife Area and Bush Pacific Pioneer County Park, indicating the ecological importance of this estuary system during the mid-century period.