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1940 Map of McMinnville

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of McMinnville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad and the Pacific Highway West converge near McMinnville and Lafayette, anchoring a landscape defined by the winding paths of the Yamhill River and Willamette River. This 1940 record of the northern Willamette Valley shows a dense network of rural infrastructure, from the Wheatland Ferry crossing the river at Wheatland to an array of named country schools like the evocatively named Grub College and Webfoot School.

The map details the transitional geography where the wide Mission Bottom meets the elevations of Eola Crest. Land use is highly localized, evidenced by the Aquatic Gardens near Wheatland and the numerous landings and bars along the river, such as Spongs Landing and Candiani Bar. Genealogists and local historians can trace the connection between small hubs like Whiteson, Amity, and Bethel, which served as the social centers for this productive agricultural prairie before the expansion of modern highways.