Loading map...

1972 Map of Somerville Flats East

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Somerville Flats East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Powder River carves the southwestern corner of this landscape, where the wide Somerville Flats meet a network of draws and seasonal drainages. During the early 1970s, this portion of the Powder River Basin was defined by energy exploration and ranching infrastructure. The West Barber Creek Oil Field occupies the central hills, evidenced by numerous Oil Wells and a Jeep Trail system that connects remote drilling sites across the breaks.

Prominent family-named terrain features like Turner and Barber Creek reflect the heritage of the Johnson County and Campbell County line. The map detail highlights the practical water needs of the high plains, marking several Flowing Wells and a Windmill near McLaughlin Draw. These features, along with a complex topography of ridges like the Divide, provide a clear picture of how land was utilized before more modern developments in the Wyoming basin.