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1950 Map of Mercer Island

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Mercer Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Lake Washington defines this mid-century landscape, separating the developing suburban centers of Bellevue and Medina from the prominent landmass of Mercer Island. The map documents a period of rapid growth on the Eastside, where the Northern Pacific railroad still winds through the terrain, connecting industrial pockets like the Renton city boundary to smaller settlements such as Kennydale and Wilburton. Notable institutional sites are visible, including the Burbank Boys Sch on the island and the Overlake High Sch near the shore.

Industrial and recreational footprints appear side-by-side, from the Bellevue Airfield and the Power Plant near Bryn Mawr to the natural reaches of May Creek and Lake Boren. Historic community names like Beaux Arts, Factoria, and Newcastle illustrate the diverse residential and commercial patterns established before the full modernization of the regional highway system. The detailed shoreline captures numerous points and bays, such as Meydenbauer Bay and Groat Point, which have long been central to the area's identity.