1958 Map of Jordan Valley

About this map

Jordan Valley and the surrounding high desert of Malheur County, Oregon, and Owyhee County, Idaho, are defined by a complex network of ranching outposts and dramatic volcanic geology. This mid-century survey highlights the deep incision of the Owyhee Canyon and the surrounding Lava flows that dictated settlement patterns. While ranching remains the primary footprint, evidenced by the Monastary Ranch, Castle Ranch, and Flying H Ranch, industrial presence is marked by the South Mountain Mining Company and the Highway Maintenance Shop. Significant water management features like the Antelope Reservoir and Jumper Basin Reservoir illustrate the area's dependence on irrigation and seasonal water sources. The map also delineates the northern portion of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, underscoring the jurisdictional layers of this borderland region during the 1950s.