1902 Map of Rush Springs

About this map

The Old Indian Territory Oklahoma boundary line bisects the western edge of this territory, reflecting a landscape in transition at the close of the 19th century. Surveyed just before the turn of the century, the map documents the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad as it cuts through the burgeoning settlements of Rush Springs, Marlow, and Duncan. To the northeast, the Washita River winds past Bradley and Erin Springs, defining a fertile valley that supported several early river towns. This period of the Chickasaw Nation's history is captured here in the placement of small post offices and rural centers like Hope, Wallville, and Robberson, which served the scattered agricultural community before Oklahoma achieved statehood. The network of creeks, such as Buckhorn Creek and Wild Horse Creek, illustrates the drainage patterns that dictated the early roads and property lines of the region.