1965 Map of Smyrna

About this map

Royal City and the surrounding irrigation developments of the mid-1960s define this landscape in Grant County. The map documents the extensive water management systems of the Columbia Basin Project, including the West Canal, Frenchman Hills Wasteway, and the Crab Creek Lateral which transformed the Royal Slope into a productive agricultural region. This infrastructure stands in contrast to the southern terrain, where the Saddle Mountains rise to Wahatis Peak above the Smyrna Bench. Along the base of these heights, the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad tracks follow the course of Lower Crab Creek past the settlement of Smyrna. The southern edge of the map identifies the perimeter of the Hanford Works (A E C), while the central portion is dominated by the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, showcasing a complex mix of federal land use, industrial history, and wildlife preservation.