1951 Map of Corral Canyon

About this map

Hanford Works (A E C) occupies the northern terrain of this 1951 survey, a landscape defined by the Atomic Energy Commission's footprint during the early Cold War. Below the ridges, the Yakima River corridor serves as the primary artery for transport and agriculture, where the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific railroads parallel the water. The intricate network of the Roza Canal and Sunnyside Canal demonstrates the engineering required to transform this arid corner of Benton County into a productive region, supporting sites like the Irrigation Experiment Station. Remote ranching life is documented through established landmarks such as Snively Ranch and Hodges Ranch, while the settlement at Chaffee (Old Glen) marks a point of historical transition in the valley. The map captures a moment when traditional agrarian practices and burgeoning federal industrial operations existed in close proximity.