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1913 Map of Philomath

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of Philomath
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

Oregon Agricultural College anchors the landscape just west of Corvallis, illustrating the early 20th-century development of this Willamette Valley education and transportation hub. The survey captures a complex intersection of early rail systems, including the Southern Pacific (West Side), the Corvallis and Eastern, and the Portland and Eugene and Eastern. This rail density highlights the region's importance as a distribution center for the surrounding agricultural and timber lands.

Rural life is marked by landmarks like the Newton Cem, Mount Union Cem, and the Union Sch. The Marys River and Muddy Creek wind through the valley floor, defining the boundaries of settlements like Philomath. Distinctive water features such as Crystal Lake and the Boonesville Channel reveal the intricate hydrology of the area before modern modification, while local travel was dictated by established thoroughfares like Kings Road and Dixon Road.