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1965 Map of Bluelight

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Bluelight
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Yakima Indian Reservation occupies the northern half of this mid-1960s survey, a landscape defined by deep drainages and isolated water sources. The small settlement of Bluelight sits just south of the Yakima and Klickitat County line, serving as a focal point for the surrounding cattle country. Ranching infrastructure is evident throughout the region, from the Donoho Ranch to various scattered storage bins and water developments.

Water is the lifeblood of this arid terrain, with numerous named springs such as Bedground Spring, Mammoth Tusk Spring, and Martinet Spring providing critical resources for livestock and residents. The topography is deeply incised by canyons, including Glade Creek Canyon and Tule Canyon, while Sand Ridge and Donoho Ridge Road provide the primary transit corridors through the high ground. A solitary Gravel Pit and a Radio Facility represent the minimal industrial footprints in this primarily pastoral landscape.