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2009 Map of Sterling

Name: 2009 Topographic Map of Sterling
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2009
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2009

About this map

Sterling serves as the central hub of this Rice County landscape, established on the north bank of the Arkansas River where the street grid is formally organized around Main St and W Forest Ave. The town's layout includes important community landmarks such as the Sterling Cemetery and the Sterling Airport, reflecting its role as a regional service center. Outside the municipal limits, the terrain transitions into a productive landscape dominated by energy extraction and agriculture.

Energy infrastructure is particularly prominent, with several named petroleum sites including the Sterling Oil Field, Sterling Southwest Oil Field, and the Bull Creek Oil Field defining the outskirts. Water management and drainage are evidenced by features like the Santa Fe Slough and various tributaries such as Peace Creek and Dry Creek. This survey provides a clear view of the intersection between human settlement and the natural hydrology of the plains during the first decade of the 21st century.