1956 Map of Cowdrey

About this map

The Michigan River and the Canadian River converge in this high-altitude basin of Jackson County, where a complex network of irrigation ditches supported early twentieth-century ranching operations. The tiny settlement of Cowdrey serves as a central hub, flanked by family holdings such as the Carlstrom Ranch, Hanson Ranch, and Brownlee Ranch. This landscape reflects a transitional economy, balancing traditional cattle ranching with emerging energy interests, evidenced by the Oil Field and Oil Well markers near North McCallum. The Pacific Union railroad line cuts through the center of the sheet, providing a vital link for the region's resources. Traces of historical water management are everywhere, from the Cumberland Ditch to the Carlstrom Reservoir, alongside several segments labeled as Abandoned Ditch, marking the shifting priorities of high-country land use.