1953 Map of Black Rock Spring NE

About this map

Yakima Firing Center Military Reservation dominates this 1953 survey, illustrating a landscape primarily dedicated to military training and open rangeland. The topography is defined by the significant rise of Umtanum Ridge, which separates the high desert plains from the complex drainage systems to the north and east. Sparse evidence of permanent human settlement is visible, with only the Stewart Ranch appearing in the center of the sheet, providing a rare genealogical marker for family researchers in this part of Washington. The rugged geography is further detailed by deep seasonal cuts like Alkali Canyon and Corral Canyon. These natural features, along with Sourdough Canyon and Cow Canyon, highlight the drainage patterns through the high country where the border between Kittitas and Yakima Counties is established.