1908 Map of Sumas

About this map

The United States Canada Boundary Line defines the northern edge of this Whatcom County landscape, where the Nooksack River winds through fertile lowlands. Significant early 20th-century rail infrastructure is visible, including the British Columbia and Bellingham Bay RR and the Northern Pacific RR, which facilitated the movement of timber and agricultural goods. In the south, the budding city of Bellingham spreads near Whatcom Lake, while smaller rural centers like Lynden and Sumas anchor the valley farming districts. The presence of Larsens Mill and several Tramway lines suggests an economy deeply tied to the extraction and processing of resources from the nearby Sumas Mountain and Squalicum Mtn foothills. Cultural landmarks such as Gerry School and numerous small settlements like Strandell and Cedarville reflect the early settlement patterns of the Puget Sound interior.