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1950 Map of Nespelem

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Nespelem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Colville Indian Reservation dominates this mid-century landscape, centered on the administrative hub at the Colville Indian Agency and the nearby town of Nespelem. To the south, the Columbia River forms a major geographic boundary, its banks dotted with small riverside communities such as Elmer City, Koontzville, and Seatons Grove. This 1950 field-checked survey captures the area just as the region's hydro-economy was maturing, noting the former location of Barry (Site) near the river's edge.

Upland features reflect a mix of tribal life and rugged interior terrain, from the large waters of Buffalo Lake (Lake Annum) and Owhi Lake to the high lookout atop Keller Butte. The drainage patterns of the Nespelem River and Little Nespelem River are clearly defined, alongside numerous localized landmarks like Kaiser Canyon and Joe Moses Creek, providing a detailed view of the Okanogan and Ferry County borderlands during this era.