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1949 Map of Oreana

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Oreana
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Snake River geography dominates this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape etched by pioneer history and desert hydrology. The canyon walls around Swan Falls and the Snake River corridor are marked by the path of the Emigrant Trail, which traces the benchland above the river. Cultural landmarks like the Otter Massacre Site and Jacob Reuben Graves provide specific points of historical interest for researchers of the western migration era.

South of the river, the small settlement of Oreana serves as a focal point for the surrounding cattle country, supported by seasonal water sources such as Catherine Creek and Castle Creek. Ranching life is documented through named properties like the Montini Ranch and Gabica Ranch, alongside local institutions including the Oreana Sch and Castle Creek Sch. The map also details the complex drainage patterns of Henderson Flats and the prominent volcanic profile of Sinker Butte, documenting the land before late-twentieth-century developments.