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Description

This large-format shaded relief map of the State of Idaho, issued by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 1969, presents an intricate topographic representation of the state, compiled from U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maps.

The map visually emphasizes Idaho’s dramatic mountain landscapes, river systems, and basin regions through a carefully applied hypsometric tinting method. Relief is rendered with shaded elevation tinting, using a subdued palette of greens, browns, and grays to depict the state’s diverse physiography. 

The legend includes two primary population indicators:

  • A five-tier system of city labeling according to population size (e.g., Boise marked as exceeding 25,000).

  • Symbols distinguishing state capital (Boise) and county seats.

Major physiographic features include the Sawtooth, Bitterroot, and Salmon River Mountains, the Snake River Plain, and large water bodies such as Lake Pend Oreille and Bear Lake. The Snake River, flowing in a broad arc from east to west, dominates the southern landscape and historically formed the basis of Idaho’s agricultural corridor.

First compiled in 1964 and published in 1969, this map reflects the cartographic and geographic knowledge of Idaho during a period of increasing federal investment in mapping and land management, spurred in part by the postwar growth in infrastructure, hydrology, and mineral surveys 

This map would have been used across multiple government agencies and by geographers, planners, and educators. Its inclusion of elevation shading, population categories, and administrative boundaries provides a concise yet layered visual summary of Idaho’s terrain and human geography on the eve of significant economic and demographic expansion across the American West. 

Condition Description
Minor discoloration in upper left and upper right corners.