1978 Map of Oat Creek

About this map

Oat Creek and its many seasonal tributaries define this high plains landscape at the intersection of three states. Surveyed in the late 1970s, the map reveals a remote ranching environment where water management is the primary sign of human development. Notable watercourses like South Cottonwood Creek, Cottonwood Prong, and Indian Creek create a complex drainage network across the borders of Niobrara County, Wyoming; Fall River County, South Dakota; and Sioux County, Nebraska. This tri-state boundary area is sparsely populated, with the terrain marked primarily by isolated Well and Tank sites used for livestock. The survey also preserves the precise location of the Black Hills Meridian, providing a clear look at how early western land divisions and section lines were established across this multi-state corridor before the era of modern digital mapping.