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1971 Map of Elmo

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Elmo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Industrial expansion in the Wyoming coal fields defines this landscape, where the Arch Mineral Corporation operations dominate the eastern terrain. Extensive purple revisions show the growth of a massive Strip Mine and the associated Tipple infrastructure south of Red Hill. The settlement of Elmo sits at the southern edge of the activity, positioned near the Union Pacific Railroad which served as the primary transport artery for the region's mineral wealth.

Contrasting with this heavy industry is the natural geography of the Medicine Bow Breaks and the winding course of the Medicine Bow R to the north. Water management is evident through the North Ditch and Middle Ditch irrigation systems, while the natural drainage of Hanna Draw and Stink Creek cuts through the rugged landscape. The map provides a detailed view of the shifting land use as energy production reshaped the Carbon County environment during the late twentieth century.