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1961 Map of The Reefs

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of The Reefs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The rugged industrial landscape of central Wyoming is defined by the extensive energy and transportation infrastructure surrounding Soda Lake and Midway Oil Field during the early 1960s. This survey, revised from earlier photogrammetric methods, reveals a complex web of pipelines crisscrossing the high desert, connecting remote drilling sites and storage facilities. Aviation and local development are anchored by Wardwell Airport and the nearby residential pocket of Richardson Acres.

Insights into mid-century land use are evident in the sprawling Tank Farm (Abandoned) and the geological prominence of The Reefs. The map illustrates how industry dictated the movement across this terrain, from the path of Ormsby Road to the presence of Radio Towers and numerous gravel pits. Water features like Ninemile Lake and Sand Spring Creek stand as vital landmarks within this arid environment dominated by petroleum extraction.