1962 Map of Alfalfa

About this map

The community of Alfalfa sits at the heart of this high-desert landscape in Deschutes County, where the transition from irrigated farmland to the arid Badlands is clearly visible. This early 1960s snapshot captures the vital importance of water management in Central Oregon, with the Central Oregon Canal and its intricate network of irrigation ditches winding through the terrain to support local homesteads. Local infrastructure is anchored by the Grange Hall and a series of family-named corridors such as Abernathy Rd, Horsell Road, and Schmidt Road, which reflect the area's agricultural roots. The eastern portion of the map is defined by the course of the Dry River, a fossil watercourse that illustrates the ancient geological history of the region. Scattered Gravel Pit operations near Walker Road further emphasize the land's utility for both habitation and development during this period of mid-century growth.