1953 Map of Monroe

About this map

The Monroe townsite and its surrounding river valleys are captured here in the early 1950s, a landscape defined by the convergence of the Skykomish River and the Snoqualmie River. The map shows a region heavily influenced by institutional and industrial activity, from the sprawling Evergreen State Fairgrounds and State Reformatory to the numerous gravel pits and sawmills that supported the local economy. The transportation network is particularly dense, with the Great Northern and the Milwaukee Road railroads cutting through the Cherry Valley and along the riverbanks. High on the wooded slopes, numerous small lakes and swamps like Lake Margaret and Harts Swamp drain toward the lowlands, illustrating the complex hydrology that feeds into Haskel Slough and other secondary waterways. This survey provides a clear view of the area just before the post-war suburban expansion significantly altered the rural character of the Snohomish and King County border.