Map of Benton County, 1932 : rev. to June 9, 1937.

Map of Benton County, 1932 : rev. to June 9, 1937.

Benton County (Wash.) -- Maps. <br>Road Maps -- Washington (State)

1 map ; 74 x 92 cm.<br> Insets: Kennewick; Prosser. Blue line print. <br>Benton County is best known as the site where the Atomic Energy Commission placed its Hanford site in 1943, six years after this map, for the continuation of the Manhattan Project and the researching and construction of the first nuclear bombs. The Hanford site occupied the portion of Benton County lying, very approximately, east of a north-south line drawn between Cold Creek and Prosser, and north of the east-west line marked "T 10 N" on this map. <br>Towns already in existence in that area, Hanford and White Bluff being the largest two, were evacuated. The government issued "declaration of taking" documents to those living there, basically giving residents somewhere between 2 days and 90 days to pack and relocate. Residents were reimbursed based on an assessment of property values established by an external assessor. Those few residents who remained did so as government employees providing services to the AEC, and paid rent to the government for the use of what had previously been their own land. Even the cemeteries were removed to Prosser. <br>Native Americans who used fishing grounds on the Columbia within the area refused any payment, and eventually those in charge allowed the Indians to continue fishing there. However, to do so, those fishing had to agree to be trucked in by the government, and were under armed guard while within the Hanford boundaries. <br>At present, nothing remains of the town of White Bluffs- all the buildings have been removed or destroyed, and only the foundations remain to indicate that a town (and a somewhat important Columbia River crossing) ever existed there.

Washington (State). Dept. of Highways.

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, WSU Libraries

Olympia, Wash. : [s.n.]

1937

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Contact Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, for copyright information 509 335-6691

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English

Maps

WSU 365<br>G4283.B4 1937 W37

United States--Washington State--Benton County