1952 Map of Wolf Ridge

About this map

Wolf Ridge dominates this Rio Blanco County landscape, serving as a high divide between a complex network of dry gulches and seasonal watercourses. The 1952 field check documents a sparse high-desert ranching economy, centered on the 84 Ranch and several strategic water sources including an Artesian Well and Stake Springs. The presence of the Ryan School (Aband) near the confluence of Ryan Gulch and Yellow Creek suggests a previous era of more concentrated settlement that had already begun to recede by the mid-20th century. Terrain features like Corral Gulch and Box Elder Gulch define the rugged drainage patterns, while scattered Windmill sites and a Ditch indicate the persistent efforts to manage water in this arid environment. This survey provides a precise record of these isolated homesteads and geographical landmarks before modern energy development altered the region.