1960 Map of Salem

Transit networks of the Southern Pacific and Oregon Electric railroads parallel the river, supporting the timber and agricultural economies of towns like Lebanon, Albany, and Junction City. To the west, the Coast Range rises toward the shoreline at Newport and Waldport, while the eastern horizon is dominated by the Cascade Range peaks, including Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters. The presence of the Adair Tract State Game Refuge and the Silver Creek Falls State Recreation Area highlights the early integration of conservation and recreation into the Oregon landscape.