1984 Map of Thornton

About this map

The settlement of Thornton sits at the intersection of resource extraction and high plains topography along the Crook and Weston County line. This mid-1980s landscape is defined by its industrial activity, notably the prominent Oil Field to the west and several Bentonite Pits and Clay pits scattered near the Pine Ridge formation. These excavations reveal a heavy reliance on the region's geological deposits, while a series of modest water management features like Thornton Reservoir and Luman Reservoir provide critical infrastructure in a land marked by intermittent drainages such as Dry Draw and Wind Creek. The elevation shifts from the prominent Shale Hill to the wooded recesses of Sawmill Canyon, illustrating a transition between open range and the timbered breaks of the ridge.