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1963 Map of James Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of James Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

James Lake serves as a central landmark in this high-plains landscape of Albany County, where a complex network of irrigation systems supported the region's mid-century ranching operations. The presence of Battin Ditch, Bellamy Ditch No 1, and Snake Ditch Road highlights the critical role of water management in this environment. Cattle and sheep ranching roots are evident in family-named holdings such as Hunt Ranch, May Ranch, and Miller Ranch situated along the drainage of Sevenmile Creek and the Little Laramie River.

Tracing the historical human footprint across the terrain, the map shows the prominent path of the Overland Trail as it traverses the center of the sheet. Industrial and social development is marked by the Quealy Oil Field and the Quealy Sch, while the topography is defined by the elevations of Sevenmile Hill and Signal Hill. This survey captures a moment when traditional ranching life and early energy extraction coexisted in the Wyoming basin.