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1950 Map of Vancouver

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Vancouver
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Columbia River and Willamette River anchor this mid-century portrait of the Pacific Northwest, showing the vital intersection of water and rail transport. This survey details the landscape from the coastal communities of Seaside and Cannon Beach across the Coast Range to the urban centers of Portland and Vancouver. The industrial and agricultural development of the Tualatin Valley is evident in settlements like Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Cornelius, while the northern timberlands are marked by smaller outposts such as Vernonia and Birkenfeld.

Public lands and indigenous territories are prominent, including the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation and the sprawling Mount Hood National Forest. Infrastructure is a key focus, from the Southern Pacific rail lines to the Wolf Creek Highway. The map also captures the early hydro-power landscape with Lake Merwin on the Lewis River and the complex riverine geography of Sauvie Island at the confluence of the region's two greatest rivers.