2011 Map of Smeltz

About this map

Vansycle and Smeltz anchor this agricultural section of northern Umatilla County, where a network of county roads follows the high plateaus and creek beds. The landscape is defined by the winding course of Greasewood Creek and the sharp incisions of Raymond Gulch. Named for the early local families who established these dryland wheat and livestock outposts, locations like Apex and Fruit Spring reflect a period when small rural hubs were essential to the county's ranching economy. The map traces several arterial routes that follow the natural topography, including Vansycle Rd and the high-elevation Butler Grade Rd. Genealogists and local historians will find value in the specific road names like Kupers Rd and Gerkins Flat Rd, which document the long-standing land ownership and development patterns of this high desert region.