1970 Map of Empire

About this map

The coastal community of Empire is situated along the eastern shore of Coos Bay during a period of transition in the early 1970s. The map illustrates the industrial and educational development of the region, anchored by the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus and the infrastructure of the North Bend Municipal Airport. To the west, the massive North Spit acts as a natural barrier between the bay and the Pacific Ocean, characterized by extensive Sand Dunes and the southern reaches of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. These shifting sands have created unique freshwater features like Horsfall Lake and Bluebill Lake within the Siuslaw National Forest. Local industrial footprints are visible through the Industrial Waste Pond and the Sitka Dock, contrasting with the recreational draws of Empire Lakes and Radar Hill.