Published in 1986 from survey data gathered in 1974, the USGS topographical map titled “Medford West” preserves a revealing view of southern Oregon at a moment when rural land, historic settlement, and expanding suburban development met in the Rogue Valley. Although named for Medford, the map’s principal historical charm lies in its close attention to Jacksonville, the celebrated gold-rush town west of Medford whose nineteenth-century street pattern and surrounding hills remain central to the region’s identity. The date contrast is significant: the landscape shown reflects the mid-1970s, while the finished map belongs to the mapping practices of the 1980s. It is therefore both a geographic document and a time capsule of land use before later growth reshaped parts of Jackson County.

The map’s special distinction is its use of orthophoto imagery, combining the immediacy of aerial photography with the interpretive precision of topographic cartography. Unlike a purely drawn map, an orthophoto-based sheet allows fields, roads, drainage corridors, woodlands, and settlement edges to appear with photographic clarity while contour lines and labels supply measured geographic meaning. This hybrid style gives “Medford West” an especially rich texture: agricultural plots can be read not only as symbols but as visible patterns in the landscape, and the spread of residential neighborhoods can be compared against the natural grain of hills and valleys. For collectors, this makes the map compelling as both a technical achievement and a visually engaging portrait of place.

Jacksonville anchors the map historically and culturally. Founded during the southern Oregon gold rush, the town grew from a mining camp into one of the region’s most important early communities, later celebrated for its preserved nineteenth-century architecture and distinctive sense of place. On this map, Jacksonville sits within a broader working landscape of roads, homesteads, fields, wooded slopes, and small recreational spaces, revealing how the town related to its rural surroundings in the 1970s. Nearby Medford appears as the larger urban counterpart, tied to Bear Creek and the transportation corridors that helped drive modern development. The juxtaposition between Jacksonville’s historic core and Medford’s expanding metropolitan influence gives the sheet much of its narrative power.

The topography of the map is unmistakably southern Oregon: rolling hills, incised creeks, agricultural valleys, and forested uplands are described through contour lines and the tonal detail of the orthophoto base. Bear Creek and the Rogue River system define the hydrological character of the region, while local drainages such as Grave Creek evoke the rugged landscape beyond the valley floor. Table Rock, one of the area’s most recognizable landforms, belongs to the broader geographic drama of the Rogue Valley, where isolated volcanic mesas, fertile lowlands, and wooded ridges create an unusually varied terrain. Roads and highways thread through this setting, linking farms, neighborhoods, recreation areas, and historic communities into a coherent regional pattern.

Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, “Medford West” belongs to one of the most important cartographic enterprises in American history. USGS topographical maps were indispensable tools for planners, engineers, foresters, geologists, hikers, land managers, and local governments, offering a standardized and highly detailed language for reading the American landscape. This sheet demonstrates that mission particularly well, recording not only elevation and hydrography but also the marks of human occupation: streets, agricultural parcels, residential growth, and transportation routes. As a historical document, it offers insight into development patterns before the full force of later suburban expansion. As a map, it captures the Rogue Valley with scientific discipline and quiet visual elegance.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Jacksonville, Oregon
• Medford, Oregon
• Rogue River
• Bear Creek
• Table Rock
• Grave Creek
• Various unnamed roads and highways
• Agricultural fields and plots
• Forested areas
• Residential neighborhoods
• Small parks and recreational areas

Historical context & cartographic details

• Map name: Medford West
• Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• Survey data from 1974; published in 1986
• USGS topographical map
• Includes orthophoto imagery
• Primarily focused on Jacksonville, Oregon
• Offers a historical view of the region from the mid-20th century
• Provides insight into land use and development patterns of the time
• Combines aerial photography with topographic mapping for enhanced geographic accuracy
• Shows varying elevations and landforms typical of southern Oregon through contour lines and landscape features
• Reflects the USGS’s role in producing detailed topographic maps for land-use planning, resource management, and recreation

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.