1962 Map of Clarke

About this map

The small settlement of Clarke and the critical Boardman Junction define this high-desert corridor in Morrow County during the early 1960s. The landscape is a study in Cold War era infrastructure, dominated on its eastern and western flanks by the massive federal footprints of the Umatilla Ordnance Depot and the Boardman Bombing Range. These military installations frame a central agricultural and transport artery, where the Union Pacific railroad and Paterson Ferry Road facilitate movement across the arid terrain. Water management is central to the area's viability, evidenced by the West Extension Irrigation Canal and several vital watering holes like Upper Sand Spring, Lower Sand Spring, and Coyote Spring. The inclusion of the Boardman Oasis Roadside Rest reflects the development of modern highway amenities as travelers navigated the vast stretches of Eastern Oregon between established hubs.