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1963 Map of Summerville

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Summerville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Summerville sits at the edge of the Grande Ronde Valley, where the flat agricultural plains meet the rising timber of the Whitman National Forest. This landscape is defined by the transition from irrigated valley floors to the high ridges of Mt Emily, which reaches over 6,000 feet. The settlement pattern reflects an early reliance on gravity-fed water systems, evidenced by the Ordell Ditch and Dobbin Ditch which cut across the lowlands to support regional ranching.

Genealogists and local historians can find specific family-named landmarks and infrastructure, including the Pioneer Monument and Grange Hall near the northern valley edge. The map documents the forest service influence on the western hills with the Lookout Tower and Grandview Campground, while the surrounding terrain is carved by deep canyons like Rail Canyon and Coon Canyon. Numerous water sources, such as Crystal Spring and Kaleb Spring, appear as critical nodes in the higher elevations where Indian Rock overlooks the complex drainage of Indian Trail Canyon.