1952 Map of Badwater

About this map

Hendry Ranch and the small settlement of Badwater anchor this mid-century survey of the Wyoming high country, where the landscape is defined by the massive uplift of Cedar Ridge. The drainage patterns of Badwater Creek and its many tributaries, such as Frenchie Creek and Dry Fork Badwater Creek, illustrate the complex erosion of the Missouri River Basin development area. Human activity in this arid environment is centered on the Badwater Road and the Lost Cabin Arminto Road, which skirt the base of the ridge. The presence of a Derrick and a labeled Oil Well (Dry) southwest of the main ridge reflects the early 1950s interest in energy exploration across Natrona County, while locations like the Swaim Place and Cedar Gap provide specific points of reference for local family history and geographic orientation.