2012 Map of Rathbun Ranch

About this map

Rathbun Ranch and several other legacy livestock operations define this stretch of the Wyoming high desert, where water management is the primary driver of settlement. The map documents a sophisticated network of arid-land hydrology, centered on the Rathbun Irrigation Number 1 Reservoir and the Kirby Reservoir, which capture seasonal flows from Kirby Cr and the Dry Fork. These reservoirs support ranching outposts like the Hayes Winter Ranch and Gardner Winter Ranch, specialized sites for managing herds during the harsh Wyoming winters. The terrain is marked by distinctive features like Hall Butte and the Little V-H Draw, while the presence of the Day Homestead alongside modern infrastructure like Kirby Creek Rd illustrates the long-term continuity of family land tenure in Hot Springs County.