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1958 Map of Melba

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Melba
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Bowmont and Melba anchor the agricultural landscape of the Snake River Valley south of Nampa in the late 1950s. The region is defined by a sophisticated water management system designed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, featuring the Mora Canal, Waldvogel Canal, and a notable Siphon Flume. These irrigation works transformed Upper Deer Flat into productive farmland, supported by the Union Pacific Railroad which bisects the quadrangle.

Distinctive volcanic landmarks like Hat Butte, Madden Butte, and Mc Elroy Butte rise above the irrigated plains, providing clear topographic contrast to the surrounding drainage networks. Local education is represented by the Seism School, Bennett School, and Happy Valley School, marking the scattered rural communities of the era. The presence of the Melmont settlement and various gravel and cinder pits reflects the local economy's reliance on both the land's surface and its geological resources.