1953 Map of Castle Rock

About this map

Winlock and Toledo anchor this 1953 mapping of the Cowlitz River valley, a landscape defined by its fertile flats and transitioning timberlands. The river itself meanders through Smokey Valley and past Barnes State Park, flanked by the massive infrastructure of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Pacific Highway. The sheet captures a moment of institutional change, documenting numerous defunct educational sites like the Layton Prairie Sch (Aban'd) and Brim Creek Sch (Aban'd), while the active St Marys Academy remains a prominent landmark near Toledo. To the south, the terrain shifts as the Toutle River joins the Cowlitz near Castle Rock. Further east, the sprawling waters of Silver Lake are detailed with islands such as Dixon Island and Goat Island, illustrating the complex water and rail network that supported the local logging and agricultural economy of the early 1950s.