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1964 Map of Thornton

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Thornton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Thornton and the smaller loading stations of the Palouse region define this mid-1960s landscape, where the agricultural economy relies heavily on the intersecting steel of the Union Pacific and Great Northern railroads. These lines track the natural contours of the land, following Thorn Creek and Cottonwood Creek through the undulating terrain north of the Steptoe Butte area.

Smaller named localities like Sunset, Trowbridge, Barnes, and Cashup serve as localized hubs for grain transport, while the Pleasant Valley Landing Strip provides an aerial link for this productive valley. A Cem near Thornton and several Gravel Pits illustrate the local infrastructure and social history of Whitman County during this era. The map clearly documents the drainage patterns of Hastings Gulch and Pleasant Valley Creek, showing how the topography dictated the placement of early settlements and transport corridors.