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1952 Map of Lawrence

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Lawrence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Nooksack River winds through the heart of this early 1950s survey, marking a transition between the low-lying agricultural flats and the rising timber of Squalicum Mtn and Sumas Mtn. This landscape is defined by its twin transportation arteries: the Northern Pacific Railroad following the river valley through Lawrence and Cedarville, and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific Railroad cutting south toward Agate Bay on the northern tip of Lake Whatcom.

Rural life in Whatcom County is anchored by small settlements like Goshen and Wahl, where the Grange Hall and local schools served as community hubs. The map captures a detailed snapshot of the region's hydrology, from the small basin of Lake Fazon in the northwest to the intricate drainage of Anderson Creek and Squalicum Creek. This era shows the local road network, including the Mt Baker Highway, as it began to modernize the connections between these valley rail stops and the surrounding upland farms.