1959 Map of Saddle Rock

About this map

The Rattlesnake Hills dominate this high-desert landscape in central Wyoming, providing a rugged backdrop to the livestock operations of the late 1950s. This survey, based on 1954 aerial photography and field checked in 1959, reveals a sparsely populated ranching territory centered on the Cottonwood Ranch. The land is defined by a complex network of seasonal drainage systems, including Cottonwood Creek, Little Cottonwood Creek, and Roberts Draw, which carve through the arid terrain. Notable landmarks like Saddle Rock and Sagehen Hill offer topographical orientation in a region where unimproved dirt roads and selected fence lines represent the primary human imprints. This map captures the traditional open-range character of Natrona County before more modern industrial or energy developments changed the footprint of the area.