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1916 Map of Condon

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

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The Condon plateau and the deeply incised canyon lands of north-central Oregon are captured here during a period of transition in the mid-1910s. This survey, conducted by topographic engineers like C.H. Birdseye and Albert Pike, reveals a landscape dominated by the winding course of the John Day River and its myriad tributaries, including Thirtymile Creek and Ferry Canyon. The map illustrates a high-desert agrarian society organized around the Oregon Washington railroad line, with small settlements such as Mikkalo, Clem, and Gwendolen serving as local hubs.

A remarkably dense network of rural schoolhouses, such as Linville School, Matney School, and Buckhorn School, indicates the scattered nature of the homesteading population. Significant landmarks like the City Farm and the Buckhorn Ranch highlight the early 20th-century economic reliance on ranching and dry-land farming across the Beecher Flats. The terrain is characterized by dramatic elevation shifts, from the river floor up to prominent heights like Hay Creek Butte and Bunker Hill.