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1953 Map of Walla Walla

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Walla Walla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Columbia River and Snake River confluence anchors this regional overview, illustrating the mid-century development of the Tri-Cities and the expansive Hanford Reservation. This era reflects a landscape of intensive land management, from the military operations at Larson AFB and the Survival Training Area to the protected wetlands of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. The irrigation and hydroelectric potential of the basin is evident in the network of reservoirs like Potholes Reservoir and Lake Sacajawea, which reshaped the ancient drainage patterns of Crab Creek and Esquatzel Coulee.

To the east, Walla Walla and College Place stand as established agricultural and educational centers, while the surrounding Horse Heaven Hills and Rattlesnake Hills define the local topography. Transportation is dominated by the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads, which connect rural settlements such as Othello, Prescott, and Waitsburg. The map captures a moment of transition between traditional dryland farming and the large-scale industrial and conservation projects of the Cold War period.