1952 Map of Badwater

About this map

Cedar Ridge dominates this central Natrona County landscape, acting as a high divide between the seasonal drainages of the high desert. Settlement is sparse, represented by isolated outposts like the Hendry Ranch and the Swaim Place, which suggest a ranching economy dependent on the few reliable water sources available. The naming of Badwater Creek and its various tributaries, such as Frenchie Creek and Clear Creek, highlights the importance of water quality in this arid environment. Evidence of early mid-century resource exploration appears in the form of a Derrick and a marked Oil Well (Dry) south of Cedar Ridge. Transportation follows the contours of the land, with the Lost Cabin Arminto Road cutting across the southern portion of the sheet, providing a vital link between remote mountain gaps like Cedar Gap and the distant rail towns.