2023 Map of Sterling Creek

About this map

Buncom stands as a focal point in this southern Oregon landscape, where the confluence of the Little Applegate River and Sterling Creek shaped the region's early development. The map reveals an intricate hydraulic history through labels for the China Ditch and Sterling Ditch, remnants of the extensive water systems once utilized for gold mining in the Applegate Valley. These man-made watercourses wind through a terrain marked by deep gulches and canyons, such as Deming Gulch and Eagle Canyon, leading up to landmarks like Anderson Butte. Near the northern border, Sterling Cem remains a physical link to the families of the former mining camps. Significant portions of the eastern and southern sectors are occupied by the Rogue River National Forest, where topography rises toward Goat Cabin Ridge and Nelson Mtn. This record provides a clear look at the relationship between water management and early settlement patterns in Jackson County.