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1955 Map of Idaho Falls

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Idaho Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Craters of the Moon National Monument dominates the western landscape of this mid-century survey, its expansive lava fields contrasting sharply with the agricultural corridors along the Snake River. The region's mid-century character is defined by the massive Idaho National Engineering Laboratory site, a sprawling federal installation established in the high desert between Arco and Idaho Falls. This era of development is marked by the presence of Atomic City, a settlement tied to the burgeoning nuclear research industry of the 1950s.

Water management and transportation networks are central to the area's geography, with the Union Pacific railroad and a complex system of canals like the Idaho Canal and Progressive Canal supporting settlements from Blackfoot to Shelley. In the mountainous northwest, the White Knob Mountains rise above the Big Lost River valley, while landmarks like Big Southern Butte serve as prominent navigational aids across the desert floor. The map also captures the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in the south and the Camas National Wildlife Refuge to the north, illustrating the diverse land uses across the Snake River Plain.