1953 Map of Wymer

About this map

The Yakima River carves a dramatic, sinuous path through this 1953 survey of Kittitas County, following a corridor where rail lines and canyon geography meet. The small rail-adjacent settlement of Wymer stands at a tight bend in the river, serving as a focal point for the transport network that parallels the water. Further north, the landscape is marked by the presence of Umtanum, another isolated station point where the canyon walls provide a stark backdrop to the essential transit line. This mapping project, produced from 1952 aerial photography, captures the stark spatial relationship between the river’s natural course and the man-made infrastructure required to navigate the Yakima Canyon. For local historians and researchers, the map provides a clear record of the specific locations and layouts of these small rail-stop communities during the early post-war era before significant highway expansion altered the region's accessibility.