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1963 Map of Best Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Best Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad corridor and the historic path of the Overland Trail dominate this 1963 survey of Albany County, Wyoming. This high-plains landscape near Tie Siding is characterized by its legacy of early western transit, where heavy rail and wagon routes converged against the foothills of Boulder Ridge. The map documents a network of private holdings including Weaver Ranch, Higgins Ranch, and Wright Ranch, illustrating the region's enduring ranching economy during the mid-20th century.

Water management is central to the area's geography, visible in the Willow Creek Reservoir and its associated spillway and aqueduct. Significant drainage systems like Dirty Woman Creek, Government Creek, and Fish Creek carve through the terrain, while the Cherokee Park Road provides access across the more remote southern sections. For researchers, the map offers an exact record of property markers and access points during the Missouri River Basin development era.