Murray County is a compact but topographically varied county in south-central Oklahoma, centered on Sulphur, Davis, the Arbuckle Mountains, and the Washita River. Sulphur is the county seat at U.S. 177 and State Highway 7, while Davis provides the strongest western road reference near U.S. 77 and Interstate 35. South of those towns, the Lake of the Arbuckles and Chickasaw National Recreation Area add a large water-and-park landscape to the county. High-resolution JPG originals of the supplied maps are available together in a downloadable ZIP for printing or closer study.
Murray County is small in area, yet its relief changes quickly. The Oklahoma Historical Society places the northern section in the Sandstone Hills and the southern section in the Arbuckle Mountains. The Washita River and numerous creeks occupy lower corridors between the hills, while rugged high ground rises west of Davis and across the southwest. The elevation map shows an actual range of about 211 to 432 meters, with a mean near 318 meters.
Table of Contents
Sulphur and Davis provide the clearest road anchors
Sulphur is the most useful starting point on the general county map. The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies it as the Murray County seat at the intersection of U.S. Highway 177 and State Highway 7. From Sulphur, State Highway 7 runs west toward Davis, while U.S. 177 continues south through the eastern half of the county. The city also sits immediately beside the historic spring and creek landscape of Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Davis anchors the western side. U.S. 77 and Interstate 35 run nearby, giving the town a direct north-south connection toward Garvin County and Carter County. The route between Davis and Sulphur crosses a short distance but passes between very different environments: the I-35 corridor, rugged Arbuckle terrain, park land, and the approaches to the Lake of the Arbuckles.
Dougherty lies farther south in a narrower valley, while Hickory is northeast of Sulphur near State Highway 1. Murray County borders Carter County on the west, Garvin County on the north, and Pontotoc and Johnston counties on the east. The northwestern boundary becomes irregular where it follows the Washita River, giving that side of the county a noticeably different outline from its straighter survey boundaries.
The city-connections map measures three directions from Sulphur
The city-connections map uses Sulphur as the hub and compares it with Davis, Dougherty, and Hickory. The labeled values are straight-line distances, not driving mileage. Davis is shown about 12 miles from Sulphur, Dougherty about 7 miles, and Hickory about 8 miles. Those simple measurements make the county’s compact scale easy to understand.
Davis is the largest western reference and connects directly to the I-35 and U.S. 77 corridor. Dougherty lies southwest of Sulphur in lower country close to the Washita River system. Hickory is northeast of the county seat in rolling Sandstone Hills terrain. The three directions therefore represent more than settlement spacing; they also lead into different road and relief settings.
Population-style figures printed on the supplied graphic should be treated as reference values from that map rather than current estimates. Anyone needing current population totals should consult the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. For geographic orientation, the more useful information is the direction and relative spacing of the towns around Sulphur.
The Washita River and Lake of the Arbuckles organize the water map
The Washita River is the largest natural watercourse shown in Murray County. It enters from the northwest, bends through the central county, and exits toward the south. The Oklahoma Historical Society describes the Washita as the county’s principal drainage, fed by Rock Creek, Falls Creek, and other tributaries. On the terrain map, the river occupies one of the broadest low corridors between the surrounding hills.
The Lake of the Arbuckles is the major reservoir in the south-central interior. Completed on Rock Creek in the 1960s, it is now a defining feature of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Its long coves and branching shoreline make the original creek valleys easy to recognize, and the lake provides an important geographic link between Sulphur, Davis, and the rugged southern terrain.
Chigley Sandy Creek and Guy Sandy Creek drain much of the north, while Garrison Creek and Colbert Creek cut through western hills. Rock Creek and Mill Creek provide strong eastern references near Sulphur and Hickory. Veterans Lake and Lowrance Lake are smaller landmarks, and Buckhorn Creek and Honey Creek mark additional valleys in the southwest.
This water map is intended for geographic reference rather than flood, navigation, or property decisions. It does not show flood probability, water depth, streamflow, water quality, safe boating conditions, or legal boundaries. Current National Park Service, USGS, FEMA, and local information should be used for recreation, construction, or flood planning around the Lake of the Arbuckles and the Washita River.
Elevation from about 211 to 432 meters reveals the Arbuckle Mountains
The elevation map gives Murray County an actual range of about 211 to 432 meters, with a mean near 318 meters. The strongest brown relief appears in the west and southwest, where the Arbuckle Mountains contain tightly spaced ridges and short valleys. The Washita River and Lake of the Arbuckles form dark green lowlands through the center and south, while higher hills return toward the northeastern boundary.
West and southwest of Davis, the terrain becomes particularly rugged. The Turner Falls area belongs to the same Arbuckle mountain landscape, and the elevation map shows steep local changes close to the I-35 corridor. A traveler can therefore remain on a major north-south highway while passing beside some of the county’s strongest relief.
Sulphur sits in lower and more broken terrain around Rock Creek and the historic spring district. Farther north, the Sandstone Hills are rolling rather than mountainous. South toward the reservoir and Washita valley, elevation drops again before short ridges rise around the shoreline. This close spacing of hills, creeks, and low valleys is one of the county’s most distinctive physical features.
This generalized elevation surface is suitable for county-scale comparison only. It should not be used to establish exact parcel elevation, road grade, drainage design, building elevations, or legal survey boundaries. Those uses require more precise source data and professional field measurements when appropriate.
Mineral springs and Chickasaw history shaped Sulphur
The area that became Murray County entered the Chickasaw Nation in the nineteenth century and was organized as a county when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. The Oklahoma Historical Society explains that Murray County was named for William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, president of the 1906 Constitutional Convention. Sulphur’s size and its growing resort economy helped it become the county seat.
Sulphur developed around mineral and freshwater springs. The National Park Service records that the federal government acquired land containing 33 mineral springs from the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations in 1902 to create the Sulphur Springs Reservation. The protected area was renamed Platt National Park in 1906 and later combined with Arbuckle Recreation Area in 1976 to form Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Railroads helped shape the western settlements as well. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes that Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway lines reached Dougherty and Davis in the late 1880s, encouraging their development. Modern I-35 and U.S. 77 now provide the dominant western transportation corridor, while Sulphur’s springs and park remain a major reason the eastern county draws visitors.
Use Sulphur to compare Davis, the reservoir, and the northern hills
Sulphur works well as a checkpoint across the entire map set. U.S. 177 and State Highway 7 define the road location, Rock Creek and the spring district provide water references, and the elevation surface places the city between mountain terrain and lower river valleys. Returning to Sulphur on each map makes the county’s compact but varied geography easier to follow.
Heading west toward Davis quickly brings higher Arbuckle terrain and the I-35 corridor into view. The city-connections map gives a straight-line separation of about 12 miles, yet the relief changes substantially across that short distance. Heading south toward Dougherty and the Lake of the Arbuckles instead leads into lower Washita and reservoir country.
Hickory provides a third comparison to the northeast. That direction enters the rolling Sandstone Hills rather than the high Arbuckle Mountains. Looking at Davis, Dougherty, and Hickory from the same Sulphur reference shows why Murray County cannot be described as one uniform landscape despite its small size.
Choose the Murray County map that matches the task
For roads, towns, and the county outline, start with the general map. Find Sulphur, trace State Highway 7 toward Davis, then add U.S. 177, U.S. 77, and Interstate 35. The city-connections map is better when the goal is simply to compare the direction and straight-line spacing of Davis, Dougherty, and Hickory from Sulphur.
For water geography, begin with the Washita River and Lake of the Arbuckles, then add Rock Creek, Guy Sandy Creek, Mill Creek, and the smaller tributaries. Open the elevation map next and compare the same places. The western Arbuckle Mountains stand out as high terrain, while the central river and reservoir corridors remain much lower.
The web previews are convenient for quick reference. The downloadable ZIP contains high-resolution JPG versions of the county-and-road, city-connections, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps for printing, classroom use, local-history materials, or presentations. They are general geographic resources rather than parcel maps, live navigation products, flood studies, engineering plans, or professional surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest place to start on a Murray County map?
Sulphur is the best starting point because it is the county seat at U.S. 177 and State Highway 7. Chickasaw National Recreation Area and Rock Creek are also close by, so the city connects road, water, terrain, and historical references.
Are the 7- to 12-mile labels on the city map driving distances?
No. The labels from Sulphur to Davis, Dougherty, and Hickory are straight-line distances. Actual driving mileage depends on the available roads and terrain and will usually be longer than a direct map connection.
Can the 211–432 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The range is a county-scale reference for comparing the Arbuckle Mountains with lower river and lake valleys. Parcel elevations, drainage design, construction, road grades, and legal surveys require more precise data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Map File Information
Download Murray 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 – Murray County
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Sulphur
- National Park Service – Chickasaw National Recreation Area History & Culture
- 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.
