2017 Map of Toney Butte

About this map

Richmond and its surrounding high-desert plateaus define this region of Wheeler County, where the John Day River cuts through the northwest corner. The landscape is heavily marked by vertical relief, from the prominent Toney Butte and Scott Butte to the colorfully named The Blue Banks and Black Rock. For local historians and genealogists, the Richmond Cem sits just outside the small settlement, providing a fixed point of reference in an area otherwise dominated by rugged drainage systems like Shoofly Cr and Meyers Canyon. The map reveals a land utilized for water management and transit, evidenced by Keys Reservoir and cattle-country landmarks such as Gordy Flat and Camel Hump. This topographic study reflects the enduring isolation of these interior Oregon ranching lands, where seasonal springs like Quaking Aspen Spring and Rock Spring remain vital landmarks in the high country.