1969 Map of Shute Creek Lake

About this map

The high plains of Lincoln County come into focus in this late-1960s survey, defined by the convergence of historic migration routes and early industrial infrastructure. The path of the Emigrant Trail cuts across the northern landscape, following the contours of the drainage near Slate Creek and Jackson Creek. This corridor of travel, once a lifeline for westward movement, is juxtaposed against the mid-century development of the Pipeline and the Fontenelle Townsite Road. Irrigation and water management are prominent markers of local land use, evidenced by the Graham Ditch and the presence of a Flowing Well and Drill Hole in the basin. To the south, Shute Creek Lake and the meandering Shute Creek provide a rare water source in an otherwise arid expanse, while the small settlement of Fontenelle and nearby Gravel Pit indicate the sparse but steady human footprint in this part of Wyoming.