1949 Map of Oreana

About this map

Oreana sits at the junction of several critical watercourses in Owyhee County, providing a glimpse into the late 1940s ranching and settlement patterns of this arid Idaho landscape. The map centers on the small community and its essential local institutions, including the Oreana School and the nearby Cem, which serve as vital markers for family history researchers. The Boise Meridian cuts through the eastern portion of the sheet, organizing the vast network of drainage basins like Fossil Creek and Picket Creek that flow toward the lower elevations. To the northwest, Fossil Butte dominates the terrain, while the Little Hart Reservoir and a lone Windmill near Brown Creek underscore the importance of water management in this high-desert environment. These features, along with several scattered gravel pits, illustrate a landscape primarily shaped by rural infrastructure and natural geographic boundaries.