1967 Map of Optima

About this map

Chicago Rock Island and Pacific tracks dominate the landscape of the Oklahoma Panhandle in this late 1960s survey, cutting diagonally across the high plains. The settlement of Optima sits at the base of the map, marked by a Water Tank and a dense collection of structures, while the smaller community of Panoma serves as a northern waypoint for the railroad. The region’s economic lifeblood is evident in the dense distribution of gas and oil wells, supported by industrial features like a Refinery near Midway and various Caliche Pits used for local road materials. The transition from the flat tablelands of Friendship to the eroded breaks of Pony Creek illustrates the subtle but complex drainage patterns that shape this cattle and energy-producing country.