1978 Map of Mule Creek SE

About this map

The Mule Creek Oil Field dominates the western edge of this landscape, marking a period of industrial activity in the arid borderlands where Wyoming and South Dakota meet. The terrain is defined by the dendritic drainage patterns of the North Fork and South Fork, which converge as they flow eastward toward the state line. This 1970s survey captures the intersection of ranching and resource extraction, with features like Bull Pasture Well and a Gravel Pit scattered across the high plains. Water management is critical in this environment, evidenced by the presence of Childers Dam and various unnamed stock wells. The sparse settlement of Cottonwood sits in the southwest, while the Black Hills Meridian provides a key surveying reference point for the high, rolling divides between the Moss and Agate Creek valleys.