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1954 Map of Rawlins

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Rawlins
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Rawlins serves as a central hub for this high-desert region, where the Union Pacific railroad cuts through the landscape alongside the historic route of the Overland Trail. The map details a working landscape defined by ranching and resource extraction, featuring numerous family operations like the Mahoney Ranch, Doley Ranch, and McCarty Ranch. Industrial activity is evident in the Grenville Dome and various clusters of oil wells and gas wells that dot the plains north of the Medicine Bow Mountains.

To the east, the coal-mining heritage of Hanna and Elmo contrasts with the recreational and agricultural corridors of the North Platte River near Saratoga. Significant landmarks such as Como Bluff and the massive Seminoe Reservoir mark the transition toward the high peaks of the Medicine Bow National Forest. The presence of numerous ranger stations and lookout towers throughout the forest divisions highlights the managed nature of these timber and grazing lands during the mid-20th century.