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1959 Map of Harney

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Harney
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Malheur National Forest dominates the northern reaches of this High Desert landscape, where the terrain breaks into sharp ridges and canyons like Devine Canyon and Prater Canyon. In the late 1950s, the transition from the timbered uplands to the southern plains is marked by a complex system of water management and transit. The Hanley Canal and various sloughs, including Foley Slough and Poison Creek, crisscross the lower elevations near the settlement of Harney.

A notable historical landmark is the Fort Harney (Site), located near the base of the mountains alongside Rattlesnake Creek. To the south, the economy and infrastructure are anchored by the Union Pacific railroad corridor and the Burns Airport. Smaller named locations like Gradon and Chapman appear alongside scattered wells and springs such as Widow Spring and Cherry Spring, which provided essential water points for ranching and travel in this arid portion of Harney County.