1985 Map of Buffalo

About this map

The high plains of Northwest Oklahoma meet the Kansas border in this mid-1980s survey, defined by the winding paths of the Cimarron River and Beaver River. The regional landscape is marked by the presence of the Western State Hospital and the subterranean features of Alabaster Caverns State Park. Large-scale Oil and Gas Field operations are prominent throughout the territory, illustrating the mineral-rich economy of the era. Settlement patterns follow the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line, which connects rural outposts such as Buffalo, Selman, and Freedom. In the southern reaches, the Fort Supply Lake reservoir provides a major hydrological landmark, while smaller communities like Laverne and May anchor the agricultural and ranching districts. This map captures the transition from river-bottom ranchlands to the open prairie, showing the interplay between transportation networks and natural resources.