Jackson County sits in southwestern Oklahoma, with Altus serving as the clearest road and settlement anchor between the Gypsum Hills and the Red River country. U.S. 62 and U.S. 283 meet in Altus, while Blair, Olustee, Eldorado, East Duke, and Martha spread across the county in different directions. The physical map adds a different layer: the Salt Fork Red River runs through the interior, the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River follows the southern edge, and higher ground rises in the west and northeast. The maps can be viewed online, and the original high-resolution JPG files are available together in a downloadable ZIP for printing or close inspection.
The county is not one continuous flat plain. The Oklahoma Historical Society places most of Jackson County in the Red Bed Plains, roughly the western third in the Gypsum Hills, and the northeastern corner in the Wichita Mountains region. The supplied elevation map reflects that mix: broad lower terrain occupies much of the center and southeast, while higher ridges appear in the west and a pronounced high area rises in the northeast. Comparing roads, water, and elevation makes the internal differences much easier to see.
Table of Contents
Altus and the U.S. 62–283 junction organize the road map
Altus is the easiest place to begin on the general county map. The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies it as the county seat and notes its location at U.S. Highways 62 and 283. On the map, U.S. 62 approaches from East Duke, crosses Altus, and continues east, while U.S. 283 runs north from the southern part of the county through Altus toward Blair. Those two highways create a simple reference frame for finding the smaller communities and state routes.
Blair and Martha are close to the northern side of the Altus area. Olustee lies southwest of Altus near State Highway 5, and Eldorado sits still farther southwest along State Highway 6. East Duke is positioned on the western U.S. 62 corridor. Instead of memorizing every numbered road, it is easier to trace one route outward from Altus and then add the local roads that branch toward each town.
The county boundary itself is irregular. Step-like straight segments appear along the north and west, while the eastern and southern sides contain more curves and narrow projections. The southern edge meets Texas along the Red River system. Harmon and Greer counties lie to the west and north, while Kiowa and Tillman counties are on the eastern side. Nearby labels such as Hollis, Gould, Snyder, and Tipton help place Jackson County within the wider southwestern Oklahoma road network.
Six highlighted communities provide checkpoints across the county
The city map highlights Altus, Blair, Olustee, Eldorado, East Duke, and Martha. Altus is the dominant central reference, with Blair to the north and Martha nearby to the northwest. Olustee occupies the southwestern interior, Eldorado is closer to the far southwestern edge, and East Duke anchors the western U.S. 62 corridor. The six labels are distributed widely enough to make them useful checkpoints when switching between the other maps.
The surrounding terrain changes along with the settlement pattern. Altus and Olustee are near the Salt Fork Red River and its tributaries. Blair is closer to Bitter Creek and the Altus Canal. Eldorado lies between the higher western uplands and the southern Red River lowlands, while East Duke is close to the Gypsum Hills portion of the county. The city map provides the locations; the water and elevation maps explain why the same short road trips can cross noticeably different ground.
The rank and population-style figures printed with the place names are best treated as reference values from the supplied map. Current population totals should be checked with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data when exact figures matter. For geographic orientation, the relative positions are more useful than the numbers themselves.
Salt Fork Red River links the interior to the Red River boundary
The Salt Fork Red River is the strongest interior water feature on the map. It follows a long course through the central part of Jackson County and gathers smaller tributaries before reaching the wider Red River system to the south. Bitter Creek approaches from the Altus and Blair area, while Turkey Creek and Cottonwood Creek drain parts of the western uplands. Once the Salt Fork is located, the smaller blue channels are much easier to organize.
Altus Reservoir is labeled near Altus, and the Altus Canal extends northward from the same general area. Oak Creek and additional small channels cross the eastern interior. Gypsum Creek, Sandy Creek, and Mud Creek occupy lower ground in the southwest. Along the southern boundary, the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River provides an important geographic reference for the Oklahoma–Texas edge. The Oklahoma Historical Society likewise describes Jackson County as being drained by the Red River and several major tributaries.
Waterways also help explain why the road map looks different from the terrain map. Routes between Altus and Olustee cross relatively broad low country around the Salt Fork, while travel toward Eldorado reaches more dissected uplands with many short creek valleys. The Blair area has its own drainage pattern around Bitter Creek. These differences are easier to recognize when the same roads and towns are located on both maps.
This water map is intended for geographic reference only. It does not show flood probability, water depth, streamflow, water quality, legal access, or safe navigation. Property, construction, flood-preparedness, or recreation decisions near the Red River, Salt Fork, reservoirs, and local creeks should use current information from FEMA, USGS, state agencies, and local authorities.
Elevation from about 362 to 631 meters separates plains from higher country
The elevation map shows an actual range of roughly 362 to 631 meters, with a mean near 425 meters. High brown and tan areas are concentrated in the western part of the county and in a prominent northeastern highland. Broad green zones cover much of the central and southeastern terrain. That contrast matches the county’s position across the Red Bed Plains, the Gypsum Hills, and the edge of the Wichita Mountains region described by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
The Salt Fork Red River occupies a lower corridor through the middle of the county. Altus and much of the central road network lie on relatively low, open ground compared with the western uplands. Around East Duke and toward Eldorado, ridges become more frequent and creek valleys cut deeper into the surface. North and northeast of Blair, the terrain rises sharply again before descending toward the eastern lowlands.
Comparing the water and elevation maps makes the drainage pattern more intuitive. Major channels tend to follow green lowlands, while smaller creeks descend from the higher tan and brown areas. The elevation surface is suitable for county-scale comparison, not parcel surveying or engineering. Exact site elevation, drainage design, road grade, construction planning, and legal surveys require more precise source data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Old Greer County, railroads, and cattle trails shaped today’s settlement pattern
Jackson County was organized at Oklahoma statehood in 1907 from part of Old Greer County. Altus became the county seat, although Olustee challenged that choice in a 1908 election and lost. The relationship is still easy to see on the current map because the two communities lie within the same southwestern road network rather than at opposite ends of the county.
Railroads helped establish Altus as the dominant service center. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes that the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway reached Altus in 1908 and that another line connected the city toward the Texas border. Modern travelers see U.S. 62 and U.S. 283 instead, but the city’s central role was reinforced during the railroad era long before today’s highway pattern took shape.
The southern Red River edge also carries the history of the Great Western Cattle Trail. Oklahoma Historical Society marker records identify Doan’s Crossing and trail sites in Jackson County where enormous cattle drives moved north from Texas toward markets in Kansas and beyond. Looking at the southern boundary on the water map gives that history a clear setting: movement depended on finding usable river crossings before modern bridges and paved highways.
Altus, East Duke, and Eldorado show three different terrain settings
Altus represents the broad central plain. U.S. 62 and U.S. 283 meet there, major local institutions are labeled nearby, and the surrounding elevation is generally lower than the western and northeastern highlands. The Salt Fork and Bitter Creek systems are close enough that the city’s setting makes sense as a central crossroads rather than an isolated upland settlement.
East Duke provides a western comparison. The U.S. 62 corridor remains easy to follow, but the terrain becomes higher and more broken as the Gypsum Hills influence increases. Turkey Creek and Cottonwood Creek cut through those uplands, producing a ridge-and-valley landscape that differs from the open country around Altus.
Eldorado provides a southern and southwestern comparison. State Highway 6 leads toward the community, and the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River lies close to the county’s southern edge. Gypsum Creek, Sandy Creek, and other tributaries descend through nearby uplands. Comparing these three places shows how quickly Jackson County shifts from central plains to western hills and then to the southern river boundary.
Choose the Jackson County map that matches the task
For towns, highways, and the county outline, start with the general map. Locate Altus at U.S. 62 and U.S. 283, then follow the larger routes toward Blair, Olustee, Eldorado, and East Duke. The city map is cleaner when the goal is simply to compare the six highlighted communities without the full road network.
For rivers and creeks, begin with the Salt Fork Red River and the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River. Add Bitter Creek, Turkey Creek, and Gypsum Creek to see how smaller drainage lines divide the county. The elevation map is the best companion for understanding why those channels occupy lower corridors and why the western and northeastern terrain rises above the central plains.
The web previews work well for quick reference. The downloadable ZIP contains high-resolution JPG versions of the county-and-road, city, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps for printing, classroom use, local-history materials, or presentations. These are general geographic resources rather than parcel maps, live navigation products, flood studies, engineering plans, or professional surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to locate Altus on a Jackson County map?
Find the intersection of U.S. 62 and U.S. 283. Altus sits at that junction and serves as the Jackson County seat. From there, Blair lies to the north, Olustee to the southwest, and East Duke along the western U.S. 62 corridor.
How can I distinguish the Salt Fork Red River from the southern Red River boundary?
The Salt Fork Red River runs through the interior of Jackson County, while the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River follows the southern edge near Texas. Once those two are separated, tributaries such as Bitter Creek and Gypsum Creek are much easier to place.
Can the 362–631 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The range is a county-scale reference for comparing higher western and northeastern terrain with the lower central plains. Parcel elevation, construction, drainage design, road grades, and legal surveying require more precise data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Map File Information
Download Jackson County road, city, water, and elevation maps together as high-resolution JPG files.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and References
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Jackson County
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Altus
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Jackson County Historical Markers
- U.S. Census Bureau – TIGER/Line Shapefiles
- USGS – National Hydrography
- USGS – 3D Elevation Program
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
