1952 Map of Ervay Basin

About this map

Ervay Basin and the surrounding high plains of Natrona County reveal a landscape of livestock ranching and water resource development in the early 1950s. The presence of the JE Ranch, the adjacent JE School, and JE Sulphur Spring indicates a well-established local cattle operation that supported a small community of residents. To the east, the settlement of Raderville sits near the headwaters of the Powder River, while the southern reaches of the map are defined by the high relief of Cyclone Ridge. The distribution of man-made water sources, such as Wagner Well, Hart Well, and Defelder Reservoir, underscores the necessity of groundwater management for sustaining life in this arid basin. Modern infrastructure, including a prominent Pipe Line and the Poison Spider Rd, cuts through the older terrain of the Coalbank Hills, marking the intersection of traditional western ranching with postwar energy development.