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1957 Map of Initial Point

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Initial Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Initial Point serves as the geographic anchor for this 1950s survey, marking the intersection of the Boise Base Line and the Boise Meridian. This specific volcanic butte defined the public land surveys for most of Idaho, making it a critical landmark for property history and early western mapping. The landscape transitions from the arid upland survey point down to the canyon floor carved by the Snake River, which forms the border between Ada and Owyhee counties.

Water management defines the northern plateau, where the Waldvogel Canal and Southern Lateral reflect the mid-century irrigation efforts that transformed this desert. Along the river, evidence of early transit and settlement persists at the Priest Ranch and a downstream Ferry. The presence of Halverson Lake and a Gaging Sta near Mile 457 highlight the river's role as both a resource and a controlled waterway during this era.