1950 Map of Cottonwood Falls

About this map

Medicine Bow National Forest defines the western edge of this Wyoming landscape, where the high plains meet the transition to more broken terrain. This 1950 survey, updated in the early 1980s, documents a network of seasonal watercourses and draws that have shaped the ranching and timber history of Platte County. The namesake Cottonwood Falls sits along Cottonwood Creek, a primary drainage that flows eastward through the quadrangle. Early infrastructure is represented by the Fletcher Park Road and an isolated Tunnel, while the presence of a Windmill indicates the ongoing reliance on groundwater for livestock. The map records a series of named creeks including Crow Creek, Sand Draw, and Matilda Creek, which illustrate the complex local hydrology. This edition reflects the Missouri River Basin development program, capturing the intersection of federal land management and rural land use during the mid-20th century.