1956 Map of Corvallis

About this map

The Luckiamute River and Marys River drainages anchor this mid-century look at Benton County, where the transition from timbered foothills to the agricultural Willamette Valley is clearly visible. The expanding campus of Oregon State College dominates the western edge of Corvallis, while the neighboring town of Philomath serves as a gateway to the elevations of McDonald State Forest. To the north, the footprint of the Camp Adair Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of the landscape, including landmarks like Smith Hill and Oak Hill. Genealogy researchers will find several rural landmarks, including the Kings Valley Cem and Kings Valley Ch in the historic settlement of Kings Valley. This 1956 survey also identifies specialized structures like the Wren Guard Sta and two schoolhouses noted as abandoned, the Soap Creek Sch (Aband) and Alexander Sch (Aband), reflecting the consolidation of rural education at the time.