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1940 Map of Blackfoot

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Blackfoot
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Fort Hall Indian Reservation and the industrial hub of Blackfoot dominate this 1940 landscape, where the Snake River and Blackfoot River intersect. The mapping, conducted by C. N. Mortenson for the Office of Indian Affairs and the USGS, captures a complex network of agricultural infrastructure. A dense system of canals and ditches, including the Peoples Canal and Danskin Ditch, irrigates the surrounding plains to support settlements like Groveland, Moreland, and Riverside.

Evidence of mid-century regional development is visible through the Union Pacific railroad lines and the presence of the State Hospital. The southern portion of the map focuses on the administrative and educational centers of the reservation, including the Indian Agency, Indian School, and the Ross Fork Indian Sch. Topographical landmarks such as Ferry Butte and Stevens Peak provide a contrast to the engineered landscape of the river valley, while an Airway Beacon near Gibson signals the era's advancing aerial navigation.