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1958 Map of Pocatello

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

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Snake River carves a critical path through this Idaho landscape, anchoring an economy of irrigation and power evidenced by the American Falls Reservoir and Lake Walcott Reservoir. The agricultural expansion of the 1950s is visible in the network of canals like the Tyhee Lateral and the St John Ward Canal, which supported burgeoning settlements from Pocatello and Alameda to Burley. To the north, the stark terrain of the Lava beds and formations like Split Butte contrast with the industrial presence of the US Naval Ordnance Plant and the Amalgamated Radio Station.

Historic transit and settlement patterns are preserved through features like Massacre Rock and the Pioneer Monument, marking the heritage of the overland trails. The map documents a complex overlay of land use, from the Fort Hall Indian Reservation to the various divisions of the Sawtooth National Forest. Small community life is etched into the grid via the Pioneer School, Springdale Grade School, and the Albion PO, providing a detailed look at the region's social geography before modern interstate development.