1964 Map of Rosalia

About this map

Pine Creek winds through the agricultural landscape of northern Whitman County, anchoring a network of rail lines and small settlements established in the Palouse region. The town of Rosalia serves as a primary hub in the northwest corner, situated near Steptoe Memorial State Park and the historic Riggs Cemetery. The map documents the mid-century dominance of the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific railroads, which connected smaller loading points like Pandora, Donahue, McCoy, and Flaig to the larger corporate center at Oakesdale. Significant topographical landmarks such as Naff Ridge and Granite Butte provide a vertical contrast to the drainage basins of Cabbage Creek and Willow Creek. This 1964 survey, updated with 1980s data, illustrates the transition from traditional rail-based commerce to a more mechanized landscape, marked by several segments of abandoned rail beds.