1955 Map of Svensen

About this map

Cathlamet Bay and the Columbia River dominate the northern landscape of this mid-century survey, where the intricate sloughs and islands of the estuary meet the rising timberlands of Clatsop County. The economic life of the 1950s is etched into the terrain through the route of the Spokane Portland and Seattle RR and a network of logging roads and quarries. Small riverfront communities like Svensen, Knappa, and Brownsmead serve as anchors for the local population, supported by institutions such as the Svensen School and Knappa HS. Further inland, the map transitions into the high ridges of Wickiup Mtn and Elk Mountain, where the headwaters of the North Fork Klaskanine River and South Fork Klaskanine River begin their descent toward the coast. Natural resource management is evident through the presence of the Klaskanine Fish Hatchery and the Knappa Guard Sta.