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1955 Map of Cooper Lake South

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Cooper Lake South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Cooper Lake dominates the high plains of Albany County in this mid-century survey, a period when the landscape was defined by the intersection of early industrial transit and ranching infrastructure. The Union Pacific railroad cuts through the northeastern corner, marking the primary transportation artery for the region. The map reveals a complex water management system essential for high-altitude livestock operations, including the Homer Ditch, James Lake North Canal, and various other ditches and windmills scattered across the sections.

Evidence of Wyoming's early energy exploration is visible near the center of the sheet with Oil Wells (Aband), while the presence of the Harris Ranch in the southeast highlights the long-standing agricultural roots of the area. A prominent landform labeled High Swell provides a topographical landmark amidst the drainages of Cooper Creek. These details, combined with the route of an underground telephone cable, show a terrain being slowly modernized while remaining fundamentally open and rural.