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1957 Map of Salem

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Willamette River anchors this mid-century portrait of Oregon's capital, where the state's institutional core is clearly defined by the State Hospital, State Penitentiary, and State Fairgrounds. The city of Salem is flanked by agricultural reaches and established neighborhoods like Highland and West Salem, while the river's dynamic nature is evidenced by features like Minto Island and Wells Island.

Downstream, the landscape transitions into the fertile American Bottom and Ankeny Bottom, where small settlements such as Independence, Monmouth, and Keizer dot the plains. Transport and commerce are grounded in the Southern Pacific rail lines and the legacy of river crossings like Halls Ferry. From the heights of the Eola Hills to the rural schools like Popcorn Sch and Ankeny School, this survey provides a look at the interplay between the growing capital city and its surrounding valley floor.