1973 Map of Little Butte SW

About this map

Idaho National Engineering Laboratory dominates this high-desert landscape at the intersection of Butte, Bingham, and Jefferson Counties. This specialized facility, which includes the Argonne West complex, is characterized by its organized infrastructure and restricted access. The map reveals the industrial and scientific nature of the site through features like the Sewage Disposal Ponds, a Water Tank, and multiple Radio Towers. Grounded by the prominent elevation of East Butte in the south, the area is crisscrossed by specialized transit routes including Harrison Blvd, Taylor Boulevard, and Grant Road. This 1970s survey illustrates a unique period of cold-war era research and development when the laboratory operated as a self-contained technical hub in the Idaho wilderness, complete with its own utility network and designated Restricted zones.