1964 Map of Colton

About this map

Colton serves as the primary hub of this 1960s agricultural landscape, situated along 195 and the Northern Pacific railroad. The topography is defined by the dramatic descent from the rolling highlands of Indian Prairie into the deep, etched drainages of Yakawawa Canyon, Nisqually John Canyon, and Steptoe Canyon as they approach the Snake River. This river corridor marks the county line between Whitman and Garfield counties, where the rugged terrain meets the water's edge. Local infrastructure is concentrated in the town of Colton, featuring a High School, storage bins for the region's grain harvest, and a local cemetery. Further into the interior, the Nesterbank Ranch and various gravel pits reflect the rural industry and family landholdings that shaped the Palouse region's development during the mid-20th century.