1955 Map of Mill City

About this map

The North Fork Santiam River corridor serves as the primary artery for settlement and industry in this mid-1950s survey of the Oregon Cascades. The timber and mining economy is evident through the string of communities along the river, including Mill City, Gates, Minto, and Niagara. This survey captures the region just as the Big Cliff Dam was altering the river's character. High in the surrounding mountains, the map documents a legacy of resource extraction and forest management, from the Ogle Mtn Mine and Silver Star Mine to fire lookouts like Pechuck Lookout and the Lookout Mtn Lookout. The transition from the Molalla River drainage in the north to the Santiam River in the south is marked by prominent peaks such as Table Rock, Sweet Spring Mtn, and Elkhorn Mtn.