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1916 Map of Arlington

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Arlington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The Columbia River serves as the central artery for this 1916 survey, dividing the high plateaus of Oregon and Washington. This era was defined by the competing interests of water and rail, with the Oregon-Washington RR & Nav Co and the Spokane Portland & Seattle railroads flanking the river. Hazards like the Owyhee Rapids and Blalock Rapids illustrate the challenges of river navigation before the age of major dams, while the Oregon Trail remains visible as it skirts south of the Willamette Base Line.

Human settlement is marked by isolated outposts and rural educational centers, including the Dot School, Gadeberg School, and Enterprise School. Large family holdings like Stegeman Ranch and Sixprong Ranch dominate the northern drainage into Alder Creek. The landscape transitions from the high, scorched area known as The Burn down to river-level landings like Arlington and Roosevelt, reflecting a sparse but resilient frontier economy.