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1962 Map of Alderdale

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Alderdale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Lake Umatilla dominates this reach of the Columbia River corridor, illustrating the transformed landscape of the Pacific Northwest in the early 1960s. The small settlement of Alderdale sits along the northern shore, positioned between the river and the rising slopes of Alder Ridge. This area serves as a critical transportation artery, with the Burlington Northern railroad hugging the Washington side while the Union Pacific tracks traverse the Oregon bank to the south.

The topography transitions from the high, arid plateaus of Sand Ridge and Golgotha Butte in the north down through steep drainages like Threemile and Sixmile Canyon. Deeply etched coulees and seasonal water sources such as Sally Spring and Sixprong Creek define the hinterland away from the river. The map also records the jurisdictional boundaries meeting mid-river, where Klickitat, Gilliam, and Morrow counties converge.