1976 Map of Clinton SW

About this map

Agricultural patterns and the winding course of the Washita River dominate this 1976 orthophotoquad of central Custer County. The map provides a direct aerial perspective of the region just as the spring planting season began, revealing the complex geometry of terraced fields and riparian woodlands. The northern portion of the city of Clinton is visible in the lower left, showing the dense residential grid and industrial footprints of the era. Further north, the smaller settlement of Arapaho sits amidst a landscape of varied land use, where the dark vegetation of the river bottom contrasts sharply with the lighter tones of the surrounding prairie. This advance print allows researchers to study the precise physical footprint of these communities and the environmental character of the Oklahoma plains before modern suburban expansion and changing farming practices altered the rural fabric.