1962 Map of Casper

About this map

Casper serves as the industrial and transport hub of central Wyoming in this early 1960s representation, where the North Platte River winds through a landscape defined by massive water reclamation and energy extraction. The map reveals a complex network of oil fields, including the Lost Soldier Oil Field and Poison Spider Oil Field, which speak to the region's mid-century economic foundation. Large-scale infrastructure projects are evident in the sprawling Pathfinder Reservoir and Seminoe Reservoir, which transformed the arid high plains of the Great Divide Basin. To the south and east, the rising elevations of the Medicine Bow National Forest and the Ferris Mountains contrast with the rail-oriented settlements along the Chicago and North Western Railway. From the isolated outpost of Bairoil to the expanding suburbs of Paradise Valley, the map captures a pivotal moment of post-war development in Natrona and Carbon counties.