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1941 Map of Black Rock Spring

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of Black Rock Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Umtanum Ridge and the Hog Ranch Buttes dominate this 1930s landscape, illustrating the remote ranching economy and rugged topography of the area between the Kittitas and Yakima county line. The map captures a network of isolated homesteads including the Bernhardt Ranch, Holmes Ranch, and Stewart Ranch, which are linked by primitive roads and seasonal water sources like Black Rock Spr.

A distinct lack of urban development is balanced by detailed landmarks of rural life, such as the Taylor Sch located near Squaw Creek. The presence of the White Bluffs Road traversing the Moxee Valley provides a look at early regional transit through the Rattlesnake Hills. This survey serves as a vital record of the central Washington desert before significant modern infrastructure altered the drainage patterns and access routes of canyons like Alkali Canyon and Firewater Canyon.