1922 Map of Monroe

About this map

The Long Tom River and its complex network of sloughs and oxbow lakes define this Willamette Valley landscape as it appeared during the early twentieth century. Small rural communities like Monroe and Bellfountain anchor a territory transitioning from river-based transport to rail and road. The Southern Pacific railroad cuts a north-south line through the valley, passing through junctions and whistle-stops such as Alpine Junc and Bruce. This 1911 survey preserves the location of numerous one-room schoolhouses, including Belknap School, Irish Bend School, and Redoak School, which served the scattered farming families of the era. To the east, the map shows the flat, wetland-heavy character of the valley floor with features like Garlinghouse Lake and Vatman Slough, while to the west, the terrain rises sharply toward Sheridan Peak and the Coast Range foothills.