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1908 Map of Umatilla

Name: 1908 Topographic Map of Umatilla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Columbia River forms the northern boundary of this territory, where early 20th-century irrigation efforts began transforming the arid landscape. Evidence of these massive water projects is visible through the Oregon Land and Water Co Canal, the Furnish Ditch, and the creation of the Cold Springs Reservoir, which sits adjacent to the Cold Springs Bird Reservation. These engineering works supported growing settlements like Hermiston and Stanfield along the Umatilla River.

South of the river corridor, the landscape is defined by the historic path of the Oregon Trail and the Stage Road, winding through a series of prominent elevations including Service Buttes and Emigrant Buttes. The rail network is well-established, featuring the Spokane Portland and Seattle line hugging the Columbia and the Union Pacific tracks serving the inland towns of Echo and Nolin. Small rural hubs such as Pine City and Galloway sit near the southern canyons, marking the transition from river valley to upland ranching country.