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2020 Map of Riley

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Riley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The high desert community of Riley serves as a central anchor in this high plateau landscape of Harney County, where the intersection of vital water sources and travel routes defines local life. Water is the primary architect of the region, visible in the sprawling Chickahominy Reservoir and the winding course of Silver Cr, which irrigates the basin floor before reaching Cream Lake. These watercourses stand in sharp contrast to the surrounding arid terrain, characterized by the prominent elevation of Shields Butte and the extensive Juniper Ridge to the south.

Local history and family land use are etched into the map through numerous named roads and landmarks, such as Oakerman Ln and Dick Miller Rd, leading into the deep recesses of Gumboot Canyon. For those tracing ancestry or local heritage, the Silver Creek Cem in the northwest quadrant provides a specific point of connection to the area's early ranching families and settlers who managed these vast open ranges.