1952 Map of Sumas

About this map

The international boundary between the Canada United States and British Columbia Washington anchors this 1952 topographic study, where the port of entry at Sumas serves as a hub for both rail and road transit. The landscape is defined by the alluvial plains of the Sumas River and Nooksack River, which supported a network of small agricultural settlements and crossroads including Clearbrook, Nooksack, and Everson. Industrial and transport infrastructure of the era is evident in the dual rail lines of the Northern Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific, which intersect near the border. From the eastern slopes of Sumas Mountain to the lowlands of Judson Lake, the map documents a mid-century rural economy shaped by proximity to the Canadian border and the steady flow of the river systems.