1950 Map of La Crosse

About this map

The Palouse River and its tributary system define the agricultural geography of this Whitman County region at mid-century. The Union Pacific railroad serves as the primary spine of the landscape, connecting the clustered settlements of Winona, Sutton, and La Crosse. This town-and-rail network reflects the grain-shipping economy central to the Palouse, where the movement of goods followed the natural breaks of Union Flat Creek and Willow Creek. North of the town center, the La Crosse Municipal Airport and a nearby Airway Beacon signal the modernization of transportation alongside the traditional rail corridor. Further south, the map identifies the small community of Pampa and Pampa Pond, while the northwestern corner marks the boundary between Adams and Whitman Counties. The terrain is characterized by intricate coulees and flats typical of the Columbia Plateau, illustrated through the drainage of Rebel Flat Creek and Rock Creek.