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1971 Map of Lake Altus

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Lake Altus
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Quartz Mountain Lake dominates this landscape on the border of Greer and Kiowa counties, where the North Fork Red River is harnessed by the Altus Dam. The map reveals a complex infrastructure of water management and civic institution, notably the extensive grounds of the State Reformatory near the town of Granite. The terrain transitions abruptly from the flat agricultural plains of southwestern Oklahoma into the sharp, distinctive rises of Quartz Mountain, Williams Peak, and Baldy Point.

Transportation networks of the early 1970s are well-documented, featuring the intersecting routes of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. These lines served the local economy of ranching and resource extraction, evidenced by numerous Gravel Pits and a Quarry. Recreational development is also visible within Quartz Mountain State Park, highlighting the area's dual role as a regional utility hub and a public parkland.