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1974 Map of Reno Junction

Name: 1974 Topographic Map of Reno Junction
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Hilight Oil and Gas Field and its neighboring Payne Oil and Gas Field dominate the eastern landscape of this Wyoming map, reflecting the mid-1970s energy landscape in the Powder River Basin. The terrain is characterized by a network of drainage systems like Pumpkin Creek and Porcupine Creek, punctuated by prominent landmarks such as North Middle Butte and South Middle Butte. Small settlements and ranching hubs, including Reno Junction and Savageton, serve as the primary human outposts in a territory otherwise defined by wide-open slopes and petroleum infrastructure.

Energy development is further evidenced by the Wild Horse Slope Oil and Gas Field and several private airfields, such as the Little Buffalo Ranch Landing Strip and Ohman Landing Strip, which provided essential transportation for the remote industry and large-scale ranching operations. The map also traces the upper reaches of the Belle Fourche River as it winds through this high plains region, highlighting the crucial relationship between sparse water sources and the local economy.