1965 Map of Priest Rapids

About this map

Mattawa and the surrounding Columbia River valley are defined by the mid-century intersection of massive hydroelectric development and federal installations. The centerpiece of this 1960s landscape is the Priest Rapids Dam, complete with its Powerhouse and Fish Ladder, which significantly altered the flow of the Columbia River near Goose Island. To the south and west, the terrain rises into the Umtanum Ridge and Yakima Ridge, where the sprawling Yakima Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of the highland. The presence of the Hanford Works at the eastern edge and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad tracks following the river's bend illustrate a region vital to both national infrastructure and the Pacific Northwest's energy grid. Scattered ranching and mining operations, such as Meeboor Ranch and the Pozzolana Mine, represent the more traditional industries persisting amidst these large-scale changes.