1968 Map of Silver Lake

About this map

The high desert ranching landscape of southern Oregon is centered here on the small community of Silver Lake and the vast hydrologic system of the Paulina Marsh. In the late 1960s, this area functioned as a vital hub for the regional livestock industry, evidenced by the numerous named properties such as the ZX Ranch, Johnson Ranch, and Porter Ranch. The map illustrates a complex network of drainage, where Silver Creek, Buck Creek, and Bunyard Creek feed into the marshy lowlands. Beyond the settlement, the Silver Lake Ranger Station and a local Landing Strip indicate the administrative and logistical importance of this outpost. This survey captures a moment when the local economy was deeply tied to the seasonal waters of the marsh and the surrounding range, punctuated by small-scale industrial sites like a Cinder Pit and several gravel excavations used for maintaining the remote Silver Lake Road.