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1988 Map of Prairie City

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Prairie City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Prairie City sits at the confluence of Dixie Creek and the John Day River, serving as a central hub in this high-altitude landscape. The valley floor bears the distinct scars of industrial activity, most notably the extensive Dredge Tailings and Gravel Pits that follow the river’s path, indicating a history of mineral extraction. Irrigation and water management systems are essential to the area's agricultural operations, evidenced by the Flume Ditch, several Flumes, and various Stock Ponds scattered across the terrain.

Outlying cattle operations like Oxbow Ranch and Ray Ranch are linked to the town center by a network of rural roads and the prominent Route 26. The map documents a rugged topography where drainage systems like Slaughterhouse Gulch and Strawberry Creek carve through the landscape, while the presence of a Landing Strip and a Mill suggests a diversified local economy balancing ranching, resource processing, and transportation.