2011 Map of Sterling Creek

About this map

Buncom serves as a central point of historical interest in this southern Oregon landscape, where the waters of Sterling Creek meet the Little Applegate River. The terrain is defined by a dense network of gulches and ridges, including Nelson Mountain and the high vantage of Anderson Butte Lookout. This area reflects a legacy of hydraulic mining and resource management, evidenced by the Sterling Ditch winding through the hills and the presence of the Sleeppy Mine near Coleman Creek. Local history is preserved at the Sterling Cemetery and across various family-named sites like Barr Ranch and Cass Ranch. Reservoirs such as Schlesinger Reservoir and Brown Reservoir indicate the complex water infrastructure necessary for the region's agricultural and mining history.