1954 Map of La Center

About this map

The Lewis River and its East Fork carve through this Clark County landscape, defining the boundaries and early economies of mid-century La Center and Woodland. This mid-1950s survey documents a region in transition, where the infrastructure of early settlement—seen in the Grist Mill near Etna and the State Fish Hatchery—remains alongside several decommissioned schoolhouses. Educational history is particularly visible through marked sites like the Enterprise Sch and W Pioneer School, reflecting the consolidation of rural districts as the population shifted toward hubs like Battle Ground. To the north, the massive expanse of Lake Merwin and the Ariel Powerhouse signify the era's hydroelectric developments. Near the Cowlitz River, major rail lines including the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific mirror the path of the Pacific Highway, illustrating the vital transportation corridor connecting the Columbia River to northern settlements.