1959 Map of Blackjack Ranch

About this map

Blackjack Ranch and the surrounding high plains of Natrona County are captured here during a period of late 1950s ranching and resource management. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Middle Fork and East Fork, which feed into the drainage of Sage Hen Creek. Topographic control points such as VABM Trout and VABM Hen provide elevation data across the unimproved dirt roads and trails that connected these isolated outposts to the wider region. Roads shown leading to Dry Creek Road and Bug Ranch illustrate the vast distances between neighbors in this part of Wyoming. The presence of several named springs and the seasonal nature of the watercourses suggest the critical importance of water rights and access for livestock and local inhabitants during the mid-20th century.