Loading map...

1949 Map of Soda Springs

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Soda Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Soda Springs serves as a central hub in this post-war landscape, where the Bear River is diverted for irrigation and power. The industrial character of the region is evident in the presence of the Conda Mine and the Idaho Sulphur Mine (Aband), reflecting the area's rich mineral history within the Aspen Range and Caribou Range. In the south, the settlement of Grace is established near the Grace Cem, while the Oregon Short Line Railroad follows the historic path of the Oregon Trail across the valley floor.

The landscape is defined by the contrast between the flat reaches of Windmill Flat and the steep slopes of the Ninety Percent Range. Small-scale local landmarks like the Eightmile Sch and Ice Cave provide touchstones for genealogists tracing family locations in this pocket of Southeast Idaho. The map captures a moment of transition as infrastructure like the Last Chance Dam and Alexander Reservoir reconfigured the traditional water usage of the high desert plateau.