1956 Map of Detroit

About this map

The Detroit Reservoir dominates the northern landscape of this mid-1950s survey, following the completion of the Detroit Dam. This massive engineering project altered the local topography, creating a new shoreline and recreational area now known as Detroit Lake State Park. Along the North Santiam River, the settlements of Detroit and Idanha serve as anchors for a region defined by its timber and water resources. Higher elevations are dotted with vital fire detection infrastructure, including the Stahlman, Bachelor Mtn, and Coffin Mtn lookouts. The map captures the industrial and natural geography of the Marion and Linn County border, where ridges like Boulder Ridge and Whitman Ridge hem in a network of drainages including Blowout Creek and French Creek.