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1964 Map of Ranchester

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Ranchester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Ranchester sits at the confluence of agriculture and industry in the mid-1960s, positioned where the Burlington Northern railroad meets the fertile valley of the Tongue River. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems, including the Hanover Ditch, Mikado Ditch, and York Ditch, which redirect water from the river and Wolf Creek to support the surrounding ranchlands. These engineering works underscore the high-desert economy of Sheridan County, Wyoming, and Big Horn County, Montana, just south of the Wolf Mountains.

The map reveals the transition from the rugged foothills of the northern mountains down to the alluvial plains, where multiple seasonal drainages like Fivemile Creek and Sixmile Creek carve through the terrain. Evidence of local industry appears at the Gravel Pits south of town, while the civic center is anchored by City Park. The survey also marks the state boundary between Wyoming and Montana, crossing through the northern drainages of Slater Creek and Little Ash Creek.