1955 Map of Birkenfeld

About this map

The Nehalem River winds through the northwestern Oregon timberlands in the mid-1950s, anchoring a landscape defined by logging history and early mountain transit. Small communities like Birkenfeld and Mist sit along the river's northern reaches, while further south, the map documents specialized encampments such as Camp McGregor and the Buster Camp (Site). The prevalence of an Old Railroad Grade, a Logging Road, and the Military Road highlights the industrial and strategic importance of these forests. In the southern portion of the quadrangle, the Sunset Highway cuts through the terrain near Sunset State Park, providing a modern corridor through the heavily wooded ridges. Traces of earlier rural life are evident in the Vesper Sch (Aban'd), showing how settlement patterns shifted as the timber industry and transportation networks evolved across Clatsop and Columbia counties.