1966 Map of Norton Lake

About this map

Palo Duro Creek winds through the southeastern corner of this high plains landscape, illustrating the hydrology of Deaf Smith County in the mid-1960s. The area is defined by a scattered network of depressions and playas, most notably Norton Lake and Red Windmill Lake, which served as critical water sources for local ranching and agricultural operations. The map highlights the localized nature of early settlement and land use through the Perrin Brothers Farm and the Bippus Ch, the latter providing a vital spiritual and social anchor for the surrounding rural community. A series of wells and windmills, such as the eponymous Red Windmill, are documented across the terrain, reflecting the infrastructure required to sustain life and livestock in this semi-arid region before modern irrigation reshaped the Texas Panhandle.