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1963 Map of Buck Butte

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Buck Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Willow Creek meanders through this Jefferson County high desert landscape, defining a region where water management dictated survival for early ranching efforts. In the early 1960s, the terrain was characterized by a network of scattered wells and corrals, suggesting a livestock-based economy reliant on every available source of moisture. Named features such as Willow Creek Corral and Boyce Corral mark these essential collection points, while family-named landmarks like the Reichen Well, Dayton-Grant Well, and Blanchard Well provide specific genealogical markers for local history researchers.

The topography is anchored by the prominent Buck Butte, with the surrounding slopes fed by numerous seasonal and perennial flows including Mud Springs, Cottonwood Spring, and North Combs Spring. A system of lanes and driveways, such as Dover Lane and Burns Drive, connects these remote outposts, while specialized features like the Suicide Well and various storage bins illustrate the distinct challenges of land use in this arid Oregon environment.