1956 Map of Wilkeson

About this map

Industrial heritage and deep river canyons define the landscape of northern Pierce County in the mid-1950s. The settlement of Wilkeson sits at the northern end of this reach, showing the local Coke Ovens and a Filtration Plant near the banks of Wilkeson Creek. To the south, the town of Carbonado is situated on a high plateau above the Carbon River, which winds through a steep gorge between the Wingate Hills and Gleason Hill. Evidence of the area's extraction history is visible in the numerous Caves, Quarry sites, and an Old Railroad Grade that once connected these mining communities. The map also captures the isolated site of Fairfax and the Fairfax Bridge near the southern boundary, where the river meets Evans Creek. Away from the industrial centers, the terrain rises toward Brooks Hill and Cowling Ridge, providing a look at the natural drainage of Voight Creek and Gale Creek.