1954 Map of Kemmerer

About this map

Hams Fork winds through a landscape of high ridges and industrial expansion during the mid-1950s, defining the corridor for the Union Pacific Railroad and the mining towns of Kemmerer, Diamondville, and Frontier. The terrain is marked by the Great Colorado River Basin Divide and the massive elevations of Commissary Ridge, which oversaw the path of westward migration along the Oregon Trail (Cutoff) and the Sublette Cutoff. Coal production is a primary driver of the local economy, evidenced by the large Elkol Strip Mine and numerous labeled excavations like the Frontier No 3 Mine (Abandoned). Beyond the coalfields, the map highlights the geological significance of the area with the Fossil Fish Quarries near Fossil Butte, where ancient aquatic life is preserved in the high desert strata. This survey provides a clear view of the intersection between pioneer history, heavy industry, and natural science in Lincoln County.