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1953 Map of Castle Rock

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Castle Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Cowlitz River winds through this mid-century landscape, serving as a primary corridor for the communities of Toledo, Vader, and Castle Rock. The map illustrates a region transitioning from rural homesteads to a more modern infrastructure, evidenced by the presence of the Toledo-Winlock Airport and the Pacific Highway. Notable for genealogists, several local schools are marked as abandoned by 1953, including the Upper Cowlitz Sch and Layton Prairie Sch, reflecting shifts in local education and settlement patterns.

The southern portion is dominated by the sprawling Silver Lake, featuring Pete Moore Island and Dixon Island, while the industrial history of the area is highlighted by the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Longview Portland & Northern RR tracks. Religious and social centers like St Marys Academy and the Cowlitz Prairie Grange provide insight into the community life of Lewis Co and Cowlitz Co during this era.