Loading map...

1962 Map of Crow Butte

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Crow Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Columbia River serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, dividing the landscape into the water-rich Lake Umatilla and the arid upland plateaus of southern Washington and northern Oregon. Dominating the riverbed is the prominent landform of Crow Butte, while the northern shore is marked by the industrial activity of Burlington Northern rail lines and the small station at Whitcomb. The southern shore in Morrow County, Oregon, reflects a shift in land use, moving from the transportation corridors of the Union Pacific and Pacific highway to large-scale military and agricultural developments.

The presence of the Boardman Bombing Range and the nearby Boardman Flight Strip indicates the area's strategic importance during the Cold War era. Irrigation infrastructure, such as the West Extension Irrigation Canal, highlights the effort to reclaim the high desert for farming. Local landmarks like Castle and the rugged cuts of Sixmille Canyon and Artesian Coulee provide a detailed look at the geographic character before extensive modern development reshaped the river's edges.