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1949 Map of Des Moines

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Des Moines
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Seattle Tacoma Airport stands as the central hub in this post-war landscape, surrounded by the rapidly developing suburban communities of Burien, Riverton, and Des Moines. The map captures the region's mid-century transit infrastructure, where the Pacific Highway and Military Road serve as primary north-south arteries. Along the shores of the Puget Sound, coastal settlements like Zenith and Seahurst are visible, alongside the Covenant Beach Camp and Salt Water State Park near the southern boundary.

Institutional growth is evident in the numerous schools and cemeteries established to serve the burgeoning population, including Highline High Sch and Washington Memorial Cem. The eastern portion of the map follows the meandering Green River and Duwamish River, where rail lines like the Union Pacific and Great Northern indicate the area's continued role in industrial transport. This survey reflects the transition of southern King County from rural terrain into a critical aviation and residential corridor.