1971 Map of Sampsel Lake

About this map

Sampsel Lake and the low-lying basin of Marella define this corner of the Oklahoma panhandle during the early 1970s. The landscape is characterized by a sparse, systematic network of resource extraction and water management, evidenced by the numerous Wells scattered across the township lines of T. 3 N. and T. 2 N. and within the Cleveland precinct. The broad reach of Willow Bar suggests a terrain shaped by intermittent water flow and sand deposits, typical of the Cimarron River drainage area. This survey provides a precise look at the land use of the era, where the grid of sections is punctuated primarily by industrial bores rather than dense residential settlements, reflecting a period of intense focus on groundwater and mineral development.