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1960 Map of Wild Horse Flats

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Wild Horse Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Industrial development in the Big Horn Basin is clearly evident across Wild Horse Flats in this 1960 field check. The landscape is defined by the energy sector, specifically the established petroleum operations at Torchlight Field and Lamb Field. Numerous Oil Wells and a dedicated Radio Tower point to the technical infrastructure required for resource extraction in this arid Wyoming environment.

Water management is the secondary narrative of this terrain, showing the vital role of irrigation and storage for life in the basin. The Shell Canal winds through the northern sections, supported by localized water sources like Carey Reservoir, Jones Reservoir, and Thomas Coulee Reservoir. These man-made features contrast with the natural drainage patterns of Dead Horse Draw and Scharen Gulch, illustrating the transformation of the desert for both industrial and agricultural utility.