Loading map...

1953 Map of Rainier

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Rainier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Industrial activity along the Columbia River dominates this mid-century survey, where the Port of Longview and a massive Sawmill anchor the Washington shoreline. Across the water in Oregon, the town of Rainier sits at the foot of steep, creek-cut hillsides. The landscape is defined by the complex hydrology of the river, featuring Cottonwood Island and various side channels like Slaughters Channel and Carrolls Channel.

Evidence of early community life is found in the scattered rural institutions throughout Columbia County, such as the Hudson Sch and the Fernhill Sch (Aband). Infrastructure for the era's communications and defense is also present, including a Microwave Relay Sta and the U S Naval Reserve Training Center. Moving south along the Spokane Portland and Seattle railroad, smaller riverfront settlements like Trojan, Prescott, and Goble mark the transition toward more rural valley terrain.