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1950 Map of Cordova A-2

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Cordova A-2
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Katalla and its surrounding coastal industrial landscape appear here in a state of transition during the mid-20th century. This area of the Chugach National Forest was the site of Alaska's first oil production, and the map captures the remnants of that era, including the Katalla Oil Field and a nearby Oil Refinery. An Old Railroad Grade winds along the coast and through the foothills of Ragged Mountain, providing a trace of the transportation network once used to move resources toward Katalla Bay.

The landscape is defined by its complex shoreline, where the Katalla River and Katalla Slough meet the sea. To the east, the settlement of Redwood sits near Redwood Bay, while the offshore geography includes Wingham Island and the Martin Islands. These features, combined with inland landmarks like Mt Hazellet and Lake Kahuntla, illustrate a rugged coastal environment where early 20th-century industry had already begun to recede into the wilderness.