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1949 Map of Chinook

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Chinook
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Chinook stands at the mouth of the Columbia River along the Washington coast, serving as a focal point for maritime activity and agricultural settlement during the late 1940s. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition between the tidal flats of Baker Bay and the steep, forested slopes of Bear River Ridge. This period of Pacific County history is marked by a network of family-operated landholdings, including Gile Ranch, Christy Ranch, and Kyle Ranch, which are dispersed along the Bear River and Wallacut River basins.

Navigational aids such as the Entrance Rear Range Light and the Sand Island Dike Light highlight the critical importance of the Ilwaco Channel for local commerce. To the south, the Fort Columbia Military Reservation guards Chinook Point, a strategic location overlooking the state boundary with Oregon. The presence of Stringtown and the Ilwaco Airfield suggests a community organized around both traditional river-based industry and emerging post-war infrastructure.