1953 Map of Doris

About this map

Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad tracks dominate the northern corridor of this mid-century landscape, passing through the small outposts of Doris and Rye. The terrain is defined by the heavy contours of the Saddle Mountains, which separate the rail line from the extensive Yakima Firing Center Military Reservation to the south. This military presence consumes more than half of the mapped area, illustrating the post-war conversion of Kittitas County land for defense purposes. Drainages like Hanson Creek, Johnson Creek, and Cottonwood Creek cut through the arid slopes, providing the only distinct geographical breaks in an otherwise sparse and high-desert environment. The mapping reveals a clear division between the northern transportation corridor and the restricted southern highlands.