1908 Map of Sumas

About this map

The United States Canada boundary line defines the northern edge of this landscape, where the Sumas River and Nooksack River systems intersect a complex network of early 20th-century railroads. The southern reach of the map transitions from the industrial activity at Larsens Mill on Whatcom Lake to the dense street grid of Bellingham. In the rural lowlands between Lynden and Sumas, the surveyor recorded a series of specialized rail features, including a Tramway near Pangborn Lake and the Seattle and Sumas Line. Smaller farming settlements like Van Buren, Clearbrook, and Strandell are linked by the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul RR, reflecting the region's development before modern highways reorganized the valley. Distinctive landmarks such as Squalicum Mtn and the steep slopes of Sumas Mountain provide a sharp contrast to the marshy basins of Wiser Lake and Green Lake.