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1918 Map of Samish Lake

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Samish Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Bellingham and the southern reaches of Whatcom Lake anchor this 1917 survey, which reveals a region defined by its timber economy and complex shoreline. The network of Logging RR lines and the presence of the Alger Shingle Mill point to the heavy industry driving development along the western slopes of Lookout Mountain and Chuckanut Mountain. This era captures the transition from shoreline landings like Blanchard Landing to rail-dependent inland commerce along the Great Northern and Northern Pacific tracks.

Local rural life is meticulously recorded through a high density of country schools, including the Mt Baker School, Belfast School, and Pierson School. Agricultural activity on the German Prairie and Warner Prairie contrasts with the specialized facilities found at the Fish Hatchery near Blue Canyon. Settlement patterns follow the winding path of the Samish River and the coastal contours of Samish Bay, where smaller hubs like Edison and Blanchard served as vital nodes for the surrounding farming and logging communities.