1967 Map of Optima

About this map

Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad tracks cut a sharp diagonal across the High Plains of the Oklahoma Panhandle, anchoring the small settlements of Optima and Panoma. This 1960s landscape is defined by the heavy footprint of the energy industry, with a dense network of Gas Wells, an Oil Well, and a Refinery near Midway illustrating the region's mid-century economic drivers. The terrain, including the broad reaches of Friendship and Grand Valley, is dotted with specialized infrastructure like Radio Towers and a Landing Field, while the hydrology is dominated by the seasonal course of Pony Creek. Local resource extraction is further evidenced by several Caliche Pits and Gravel Pits scattered throughout the territory, marking a period when infrastructure and industrial development were actively reshaping the plains of Texas County.