1962 Map of Alfalfa

About this map

The small community of Alfalfa serves as the focal point of this Deschutes County survey, captured just as the local landscape was shaped by irrigation and early road development. The presence of the Grange Hall highlights the area's agricultural identity, while the Central Oregon Canal underscores the engineering efforts required to bring water to this high desert environment. To the southeast, the terrain shifts abruptly into the Badlands, where the natural topography contrasts with the rectilinear grid of family-named thoroughfares such as Horsell Road, Schmidt Road, and Abernathy Rd. These routes provide a detailed look at the 1960s settlement patterns and the division of land across the high plateau. The map also traces the ephemeral course of Dry River and identifies local landmarks like Zell Pond, documenting the specific water resources essential to the region's mid-century residents.