Loading map...

1953 Map of Pendleton

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Pendleton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Blue Mountains define the southeastern quadrant of this region, where the Umatilla Indian Reservation meets the dense timber of the Umatilla National Forest. This mid-century landscape is anchored by the Columbia River to the north, which serves as a vital artery for the agricultural and industrial towns of Umatilla, Irrigon, and Boardman. The interior reflects a specialized military and transport economy, dominated by the massive Umatilla Ordnance Depot and the sprawling Boardman Bombing Range.

Regional transportation centers on the Union Pacific railroad lines that converge at the rail yard in Hinkle. This infrastructure supported the movement of goods from the high-desert wheat fields and the fruit orchards near Milton-Freewater. Key water management features like Cold Springs Reservoir and McKay Reservoir illustrate the intensive irrigation efforts necessary to support the growing Umatilla Basin settlements before the later completion of major regional dam projects.