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1956 Map of Cowdrey

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Cowdrey
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Michigan River and North Platte River converge in this high-altitude basin, creating a landscape defined by an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure. Dozens of named water-rights features such as the Poquette Ditch, Cumberland Ditch, and the curiously named Give A Dam Ditch highlight the critical importance of water management for the region's agricultural operations.

Settlement is anchored by the village of Cowdrey and a series of prominent family holdings, including the Hanson Ranch, Hill Ranch, and Carlstrom Ranch. The industrial footprint of the mid-1950s is evident in the southeast near North McCallum, where an Oil Field and various Oil Wells are serviced by the Union Pacific railroad line. This survey captures a specific era of Jackson County history when traditional ranching and emerging energy extraction coexisted along the river bottoms.