The Historic Oregon Topographic Maps consist of superceded or obsolete topographic maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey. The maps cover all of Oregon as well as small portions of the bordering states of California, Idaho, and Washington. The bulk of the collection consists of 1:24,000 (7.5 min) quadrangle maps that were issued predominantly in the 1950s through 1970s and 1:62,500 (15 min) quadrangle maps which date from 1906 to the early 1970s. The maps depict topography; vegetation cover; rivers and lakes; roads, railroads, and other transportation; political boundaries; and the boundaries of national forests and parks.
Of special note are topographic maps of the Willamette Valley and vicinity that were prepared in the 1900s-1910s; these depict the southern and central Willamette Valley from Springfield and Eugene to Albany. They are available online in the
The earliest maps in the collection are 1:125,000 (30 min) sheets published as early as 1898. The 1:125,000 maps include multiple editions for most sheets that depict changes and developments in Oregon locales from the 1900s through 1940s.
The U.S. Geological Survey provides online access to these maps through
Collection is open for research.
The Historic Oregon Topographic Maps are arranged in six series: I. Willamette Valley and Vicinity Topographic Maps, 1908-1922; II. 1:62,500 (15 min) Quadrangles, 1906-1972; III. 1:24,000 (7.5 min) Quadrangles, 1949-1993; IV. 1:250,000 Maps, 1948-1976; V. Other Scales, 1898-1951; and VI. Indexes, 1972-1989.
Historic Oregon Topographic Maps (MAPS ORTopos), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
These maps were transferred from the Oregon State University Libraries' Historic Maps Collection to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2012.
Additions to the collection are expected.
Current editions of Oregon topographic maps are part of the Oregon State University Libraries general map collection.
Series I consists of topographic maps prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in conjunction with the State of Oregon [State Engineers John H. Lewis (for 1908-1916 maps) and Percy A. Cupper (for 1922 map)] based on surveying done from about 1908 to 1914 at a scale of 1:31,680.
This set of topographic maps of the central Willamette Valley was published as 9 sheets. The maps extend from just south of Springfield and Eugene to the southern boundary of Albany. Two copies are available of all the sheets; the collection includes 3 copies of sheet 4 and 4 copies of sheet 7 (which includes the Corvallis area). These maps are housed in one map folder and some of the items are encapsulated. All of the maps are available online:
These maps includes sheets for Airlie (1922), Oakville (1913), Philomath (1913), Tangent (1911), and Wells (1913).
Series II consists of superceded 15 minute quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:62,500. Most were issued in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of the older sheets are encapsulated. The maps are arranged alphabetically by quadrangle name.
Series III comprises more than half the maps in this collection and consists of superceded 7.5 minute quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24,000. This series includes some orthophotographs. Some of the maps are provisional editions; others are photo revised. Most of the maps were issued in the 1950s through 1970s. The maps are arranged alphabetically by quadrangle name.
Series IV consists of 1:250,000 scale maps that cover large areas of the state. Some of the maps have shaded relief; others show vegetation cover. In addition to topography, the maps depict roads, towns and cities, vegetation, political boundaries, lakes, and rivers. The maps are arranged by the map number.
Sheets published separately for Adel and Burns are taped together into one sheet.
Series V consists primarily of 1:125,000 (30 min) maps; it also includes 1:48,000; 1:96,000; and 1:250,000 maps. The 1:250,000 maps significantly predate the 1:250,000 maps in Series IV. Many of the sheets in this series have been encapsulated. The maps are arranged by scale and thereunder alphabetically by quadrangle name.
1893 edition reprinted in 1910 and 1917.
1894 edition reprinted in 1910 and 1921.
Some sheets have title
Series VI consists of indexes to published topographic maps of Oregon, primarily 1:24,000 (7.5 min) and 1:62,500 (15 min) quadrangles. Many of the indexes are annotated with updates or additional information. The indexes are housed in one map-folder.