1903 Map of Oakesdale

About this map

Steptoe Butte and Tekoa Mountain rise above a landscape defined by an intensive network of turn-of-the-century rail lines. This survey captures the complex intersection of the Northern Pacific RR and the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co, which drove the rapid development of agricultural hubs like Oakesdale and Rosalia. The map records the early borderlands between Washington and Idaho, where towns such as Tekoa and Farmington sit against the Boundary Line. From the sugar beet industry in Waverly to the grain centers of Garfield and Fairfield, the map documents a region at its peak of rail-dependent growth. Smaller settlements and stops such as Summit Siding, Donahue, and Plaza are clearly positioned, alongside topographical markers like Naff Ridge and Dunlap Butte, providing a detailed look at the rural infrastructure of the Palouse and Spokane regions at the dawn of the new century.