1956 Map of Wheeler

About this map

The Northern Pacific railroad cuts through the heart of this landscape, anchoring the settlement of Wheeler and its industrial Sugar Beet Refinery. This mid-century survey documents a highly engineered agricultural and transport environment, where the massive East Low Canal and Rocky Coulee Wasteway manage water across the arid terrain. The map captures a moment of transition for the region, showing the proximity of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport to traditional landmarks like a lonely Cemetery and the small siding at Banks. Geologists and local historians can trace the intersection of natural drainage systems, such as Black Rock Coulee and Sand Coulee, with the sprawling irrigation infrastructure that reshaped Grant County. The inclusion of a Television Tower and several gravel pits indicates the infrastructure growth supporting the nearby settlements of Mitchell and Wheeler during the mid-1950s.