1923 Map of Corfu

About this map

Frenchman Hills and the Saddle Mountains dominate this 1921 survey, framing a central valley defined by the winding course of Crab Creek. This landscape represents a critical section of the Columbia Basin before the era of large-scale irrigation, where water was concentrated in natural features like The Potholes, Goose Lake, and Deadmans Lake. The arrival of the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul railroad established the small settlements of Corfu and Taunton, which served as vital transit points for the surrounding ranching and dry-farming country. Rural life is anchored by local landmarks such as Hope Valley School and Frenchman Hills School, while the political landscape is marked by the Boundary Line between Grant and Adams counties. The map captures the delicate balance between the high desert terrain and the nascent rail-and-water infrastructure that supported these early twentieth-century communities.