1959 Map of Gaylord Reservoir

About this map

High-plains ranching life in central Natrona County is centered around reliable water sources like Gaylord Reservoir in this late 1950s landscape. The terrain is defined by the drainage systems of Middle Fork Casper Creek, Coyote Creek, and Wallace Creek, which dictate the placement of human activity in this arid environment. Significant to local historians are the designated abandoned sites, including Wyatt Ranch (Aband) near Wyatt Draw and Davidson Ranch (Aband), which indicate a shifting footprint of settlement as the mid-century progressed. Modern industrial infrastructure is represented by a Pipeline cutting through the southern portion of the quadrangle near the Morton Ranch. This survey provides a precise look at the transition from early homesteading to later industrial and water-management uses of the land.