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1943 Map of Gig Harbor

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Gig Harbor
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Gig Harbor serves as a central hub on this 1943 survey, surrounded by a complex network of coastal inlets and rural communities during the mid-war period. The landscape is characterized by its deep maritime connection, with numerous settlements like Purdy, Olalla, and Arletta situated along the shores of Henderson Bay and Colvos Passage. The interior is dotted with small lakes and family-named landmarks, including Nels Johnson Lakes and Matthews Lake. Education and faith centers like Elgin Sch and Lakeview Church mark the crossroads of these developing peninsulas.

The topography captured by the Corps of Engineers reflects a transition from shoreline industry to agricultural use. Transportation is dictated by the water, with Ferry routes providing vital links across the channels. From the northern edge at Bethel down to Delano Beach, the map details a time before modern bridge infrastructure fully transformed the Kitsap and Pierce County shorelines, preserving the locations of smaller landings and bays such as Mayo Cove and Horsehead Bay.