1957 Map of Puddle Springs

About this map

Homesteaders and early ranchers once established several remote claims across this Fremont County landscape, as seen in the late 1950s. The map documents the remnants of high-desert settlement, including the Clay City Ruins and several former homesteads such as the George Homestead, Ramsey Homestead, and Sherlock Homestead. This pattern of abandoned sites suggests a difficult environment for permanent dryland farming, with the local economy shifting toward livestock operations like the Puddle Springs Ranch. Water management is central to the area's utility, marked by numerous draws and man-made features like Reid Reservoir and Willow Springs Reservoir that catch seasonal runoff. Petroleum exploration is also evident through several locations noted as Inactive or Aban'd oil wells, pointing to the region's mineral interests during the mid-20th century. The terrain is punctuated by distinctive landmarks like Sarcophagus Butte, providing orientation in a land defined by winding drainages like Muskrat Creek and Coyote Creek.