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1897 Map of Weiser

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Weiser
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

The Snake River carves a deep boundary between Idaho and Oregon in this late nineteenth-century survey, defining the industrial and agricultural potential of the region. Significant settlement clusters are established at Weiser and Payette, where the Oregon Short Line railroad follows the riverbank to facilitate trade and transport. The map details a complex network of waterways, including the Weiser River, Malheur River, and Payette River, which converge in this arid basin.

Away from the primary river valleys, smaller outposts like Middle Valley, Braman, and Wilburus are found among the hills, connected by drainage systems such as Crane Creek and Willow Creek. The terrain transitions from the lowlands of Weiser Cove to the higher elevations of Paddock Valley, illustrating the varied landscape encountered by early settlers and surveyors. This record captures the early infrastructure of Washington Co. and Canyon Co. before modern irrigation and development reshaped the Snake River Plain.