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1955 Map of Overland

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Overland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Overland Trail cuts through this high plains landscape, echoing the path of 19th-century westward migration across Overland Flats. By the mid-1950s, the terrain was a workspace for the Union Pacific railroad and localized ranching operations like Eatons Ranch and Byers Ranch. The North Platte River defines the southern reach, fed by an intricate system of irrigation including the Nichols-Scribner Ditch and McPhail Ditch.

Evidence of the area's transition from a travel corridor to a settled ranching district is visible at Midway (Old Stage Station) and a designated Historical Monument near the rail line. Beyond the river, the geography is marked by distinctive formations such as Sixmile Hill and the depression of Sand Basin. The presence of the Saratoga Fish Hatchery and numerous wells indicates the vital role of water management in this arid Carbon County environment during the postwar era.