1954 Map of Pocatello

About this map

The American Falls Reservoir and the Snake River anchor this mid-century view of southern Idaho, where massive water management projects transformed the arid high desert into productive agricultural land. The map reveals a landscape defined by the intersection of nature and infrastructure, with the Union Pacific railroad and major corridors like U S 30 and Interstate 15 facilitating regional transit between hubs like Pocatello and Burley. Large swaths of protected wilderness, including the Sawtooth National Forest and Caribou National Forest, flank the agricultural river valleys, while the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge provides a sanctuary around Lake Walcott. From the volcanic Lava beds to the heights of the Bannock Range, the geography captures the early post-war expansion of small settlements like Chubbuck, Alameda, and Malad City.