1939 Map of Monroe

About this map

Monroe serves as the focal point of this 1939 survey, situated where the foothills of the Siuslaw National Forest meet the fertile valley of the Long Tom River. The landscape is a transition from the high elevations of Green Peak and Flat Mtn to the complex drainage systems of Muddy Creek and Beaver Creek. The settlement pattern reflects a deeply rooted agrarian economy, with small communities like Bellfountain, Alpine, and Glenbrook supported by a network of rural schoolhouses such as Central Sch and Irish Bend Sch. The valley floor is characterized by numerous oxbow lakes and sloughs, including Winkle Lake and Boonville Slough, indicating a naturally dynamic floodplain. The Southern Pacific railroad and the Pacific Highway West corridor provide the primary North-South artery, connecting localized stops like Rickards and Bruce to the larger regional trade network.