Loading map...

1968 Map of Van

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Van
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Stinkingwater Mountains and the southern reaches of the Malheur National Forest define this high-desert landscape in eastern Oregon. In the late 1960s, the area was characterized by a network of scattered cattle operations and remote outposts, including the Van Guard Station and established homesteads like the Jones Ranch, Dietrich Ranch, and Old Peterson Ranch. The Malheur River cuts through the eastern portion of the sheet, supported by tributary systems like Wolf Creek and Muddy Creek.

Social and civic life in this sparsely populated region is marked by the presence of a Grange Hall near the river and the Muller Cem, alongside several small irrigation projects such as the Miller Reservoir and Sitz Reservoir. Distinctive geological formations like Moffit Table and Elephant Butte serve as prominent landmarks across the varied terrain, while a high density of named springs, including Diamond J Spring and Skookum Spring, highlights the critical importance of water sources for the local ranching economy.