Loading map...

1940 Map of McMinnville

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of McMinnville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

McMinnville serves as the regional hub for this 1940s landscape, where the confluence of the Yamhill River and South Yamhill River meets the steel rails of the Southern Pacific. The valley floor is defined by a dense network of early 20th-century rural infrastructure, including many district schools such as Crab College, Walnut Hill School, and Patty School. The transport economy of the era is evident at the Dayton Station and the vital Wheatland Ferry crossing on the Willamette River.

Transitioning from the agricultural flats of Dayton Prairie to the orchards of Eola Crest, the map reveals a meticulously documented countryside before post-war modernization. Geographers and genealogists can trace property context through landmarks like Oaklawn Cemetery or the unique Aquatic Gardens near Grand Island. The presence of numerous river bars and sloughs, such as Lambert Slough and Eldridge Bar, highlights the dynamic nature of the Willamette waterway during this period of Oregon history.