1978 Map of Elk

About this map

The settlement of Elk serves as the focal point of this 1978 orthophotoquad, showing the transition between cultivated valley lands and the rising timber of the Selkirk Mountains. Unlike a traditional topographic map, this aerial perspective captures the exact geometry of the agricultural fields and woodlots near Fertile, revealing the intricate patchwork of land use in Pend Oreille County. The terrain is dominated by the prominent elevation of Bare Mountain, which stands as a clear landmark above the winding path of Highway 2. Researchers can observe the mid-century spatial arrangement of homesteads and forest management roads that defined this part of northeastern Washington before subsequent decades of development altered the rural landscape.