1953 Map of The Nipple

About this map

The Nipple rises as a prominent landmark in this 1953 survey of the Wyoming cattle country, a landscape shaped by intermittent drainages and the essential search for water. Jointly produced with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, the map documents a period when the high plains were scrutinized for both grazing potential and mineral resources. The human presence is marked by isolated outposts like the Dobrenz Ranch (Aban'd) and Wilson Ranch (Aban'd), both noted as abandoned by the early 1950s. These former homesteads are situated near vital water sources such as School Section Spring and an Artesian Well, illustrating the precarious nature of ranching in the Powder River Basin. The intricate topography of Windmill Draw and Willow Creek reveals the natural corridors used for movement across the Johnson and Campbell County line.