1956 Map of Gloyd

About this map

Gloyd sits at the heart of this mid-century irrigation landscape, where the Northern Pacific railroad cuts a diagonal line across the basalt coulees and scrubland. The map documents the extensive water engineering projects of the Columbia Basin, defined by the massive East Low Canal Levee and a network of siphons and spoil banks. This infrastructure radically altered the arid terrain around Crab Creek, facilitating the transition to intensive agriculture. Scattered water features like Willow Lake, South Willow Lake, and various unnamed Springs reflect the local hydrology before and during the expansion of the canal system. The Moses Lake - Stratford Road provides the primary north-south transit corridor, linking the small settlement of Gloyd to the broader regional economy during a period of significant technological and environmental transformation.