1956 Map of Wilson Creek SE

About this map

Black Rock Coulee carves through this portion of Grant County, anchoring a landscape shaped by ancient geological forces and sparse high-desert settlement. Based on surveys by the USBR in 1937 and aerial photography from 1954, the map reveals a remote section of Washington where water remains the primary driver of human geography. The presence of Spring and Well points to the necessity of finding reliable water sources in this arid region, while the small settlement of Marlin appears in the northeast corner at the boundary of the coulee. The central feature, Black Rock Lake, sits deep within the coulee floor, surrounded by the intricate contouring of the surrounding plateau. The inclusion of the Marlin Azimuth station highlights the technical surveying work required to chart this expansive, open terrain during the mid-twentieth century.