1952 Map of Madden

About this map

Chicago and North Western rail lines slice across this high plains landscape of central Wyoming, connecting the remote settlement of Madden to the wider region. Mapped in the early 1950s as part of the Missouri River Basin development program, the area is defined by its arid drainage systems, including the seasonally active Alkali Creek and the meandering Poison Creek that skirts the southern edge of Merriam Meadows. The map provides a clear record of early land use in the high desert, documenting isolated points of habitation like the Brandau Ranch and essential water infrastructure such as a solitary Windmill. Topographic highlights include the survey station at Vabm 5950 Graham and the complex drainage of the South Fork Frenchie Draw, reflecting a period when Fremont and Natrona counties were still largely defined by livestock ranching and railway corridors.