1955 Map of Klamath Falls

About this map

Klamath Falls serves as the primary urban center for this high-desert and timber region during the mid-1950s, located at the southern end of Upper Klamath Lake. The map illustrates a complex network of industrial and transport infrastructure, including the Southern Pacific, Great Northern, and the Oregon California and Eastern railroads which supported the local timber economy. Beyond the immediate vicinity of the Oregon Technical Institute, the landscape transitions into the vast timberlands of the Winema National Forest and Fremont National Forest. To the east, the terrain opens into expansive basins such as the Swan Lake Valley and Langeli Valley, while large terminal water bodies like Lake Abert and Summer Lake dominate the arid eastern reaches. This survey captures the region's reliance on managed water systems, evidenced by the Gerber Reservoir and Drew Reservoir, which were critical for the surrounding agricultural valleys.