1955 Map of Cannonball Cut

About this map

The settlement of Rock Creek (Aband) sits as a quiet landmark on the western edge of this 1950s Wyoming landscape, illustrating a transition from early pioneer routes to industrial extraction. The area is defined by its historic transportation corridors, including the Old Fort Fetterman Road and the stark line of the Old Railroad Grade cutting across the central plains. These routes once serviced the high plains before shifting towards mineral development, evidenced by the Bentonite Pits found near the railroad. Water management is critical in this environment, shown through the Taylor Flume Ditch and Johnston Ditch that redirect the flow of the meandering Rock Creek. To the east, the terrain rises toward Chalk Bluff, while the southern reaches of the quadrangle feature Meiser Creek and the named point of Cannonball Cut.