Noble County lies in north-central Oklahoma, with Perry as the county seat and the main road reference for a landscape of small towns, rolling grasslands, and long creek valleys. U.S. 64 and U.S. 77 meet at Perry, Interstate 35 runs just west of town, and Morrison lies farther east toward the Cimarron Turnpike corridor. Red Rock, Billings, and Marland provide northern references across a much more rural setting. The map files on this page can be viewed online, and high-resolution JPG originals are available together in a downloadable ZIP for printing or closer inspection.
The county’s physical geography is organized less by mountains than by broad uplands and two major drainage corridors. The Oklahoma Historical Society places Noble County within the Osage Plains and Red Bed Plains and identifies Red Rock Creek in the north and Black Bear Creek in the south as principal waterways. Both ultimately drain to the Arkansas River, which forms part of the northeastern county boundary. The supplied elevation map shows higher ground in the west and southwest and long lower belts following the major creeks.
Table of Contents
Perry connects U.S. 64, U.S. 77, and the I-35 side of the county
Perry is the simplest place to start on the general county map. The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies it as the Noble County seat at the junction of U.S. Highways 64 and 77, about two miles east of Interstate 35. From Perry, the county can be organized into the Morrison and Arkansas River side to the east, the Red Rock and Billings country to the north, and the higher rural ground to the west and southwest.
North of Perry, U.S. 77 and Interstate 35 continue toward the Kay County line, while State Highway 15 helps orient the Billings side. Red Rock lies northeast of Perry, and Marland provides another northern reference near State Highways 156 and 190. These towns are small, but their widely separated positions make them useful checkpoints across the agricultural interior.
Morrison lies east of Perry on U.S. 64 and only a short distance west of U.S. 412/Cimarron Turnpike. State Highway 177 appears farther east, while State Highways 108 and 310 help locate the southeastern edge. Noble County’s long eastern projection gives it an irregular outline, so Morrison and the Arkansas River side are especially helpful when identifying the county boundary.
Four city connections show how Perry sits off-center from the northern towns
The city-connections map uses Perry as the hub and compares it with Morrison, Billings, Marland, and Red Rock. Morrison is labeled about 16 miles away, Billings about 18 miles, Marland about 20 miles, and Red Rock about 13 miles. These are straight-line measurements rather than driving distances, but they quickly show the direction and relative spacing of the county’s main incorporated towns.
The town pattern also relates closely to water and terrain. Red Rock sits near the creek that shares its name, while Morrison is near the Black Bear Creek side of eastern Noble County. Billings and Marland occupy the broad northern agricultural country, and Perry lies farther south between the two major drainage belts. The towns therefore provide useful references for comparing different parts of the relief map, not just the road network.
Population-style figures printed on the supplied city graphic should be treated as reference values from that map rather than current estimates. Current population totals are better checked with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. For geographic orientation, the most useful information is the direction of each town from Perry and its relationship to the county’s highways and creek valleys.
Red Rock Creek and Black Bear Creek form two long drainage belts
Red Rock Creek and Black Bear Creek are the clearest internal water features on the supplied map. Red Rock Creek crosses the northern half from west to east, while Black Bear Creek follows a second broad corridor farther south. The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies both as the county’s principal drainage systems and notes that they empty into the Arkansas River system.
Hackberry Creek and Skinny Creek are among the tributaries feeding the Red Rock Creek valley. Long Branch creates another clear north-south low corridor closer to the east. Along the northeastern edge, the Arkansas River helps define the county boundary, and the Salt Fork Arkansas River system approaches from the north. These rivers and creeks divide what otherwise appears to be an open rolling plain.
Several smaller lakes provide useful landmarks close to Perry, including Lake Perry, Perry Municipal Lake, and CCC Lake. They are much smaller than the river system, but they help identify the county-seat area on the water map. Additional water bodies appear beyond the southern county line, so the boundary should be kept in mind when using the broader terrain background.
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 crossings, or legal boundaries. Current FEMA, USGS, state, and local information should be used for construction, flood planning, or land-use decisions near the Arkansas River and the county’s major creeks.
Elevation from about 256 to 387 meters rises toward the southwest
The elevation map gives Noble County an actual range of about 256 to 387 meters, with a mean near 306 meters. The strongest brown relief is concentrated in the southwest, with additional higher uplands across the western side. Long green corridors follow Red Rock Creek and Black Bear Creek, and the Arkansas River side of the northeastern projection is among the lowest parts of the county.
West and southwest of Perry, short ridges repeat across the rolling upland, and higher colors become more common west of the I-35 corridor. East of Perry, the Black Bear Creek valley broadens and the terrain becomes lower. Around Billings and Marland, the overall surface is gentler, but small tributaries still carve numerous narrow valleys toward Red Rock Creek.
Morrison lies closer to the Black Bear Creek lowland and the eastern drainage network. Farther northeast, elevation generally drops toward the Arkansas River, although local ridges remain along the edge of the projection. The map therefore shows a county that is broadly rolling rather than flat, with two long creek systems controlling much of the local relief.
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.
The 1893 Cherokee Outlet opening turned Perry into an instant county seat
Modern Noble County is closely tied to the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in 1893. The Oklahoma Historical Society records that the area was first designated County P and later named Noble County for John W. Noble, who had served as U.S. secretary of the interior. Perry was laid out by federal surveyors before the opening as the county seat and land-office town.
Settlement accelerated dramatically with the September 16, 1893 land run. The Perry history published by the Oklahoma Historical Society notes that the Southern Kansas Railway had already established a siding, depot, and water station called Wharton near the future town in 1886. The federal land office and railroad location combined to make Perry an immediate center of government, trade, and transportation.
Red Rock reflects a different layer of county history. The Oklahoma Historical Society describes the area as part of the Otoe and Missouri reservation established in 1881, with nearby grasslands later leased to the 101 Ranch for grazing. Red Rock Creek and the railroad were important to cattle shipping and settlement, giving the small northern town a history closely tied to both water and transportation.
Perry offers a useful comparison between Red Rock and Morrison
Perry works well as the common checkpoint across all four maps. U.S. 64 and U.S. 77 define the road location, Interstate 35 sits nearby, and several small lakes lie just south of town. The elevation surface rises toward the west and southwest but drops toward Black Bear Creek to the east, so the county seat sits close to an important terrain transition.
Heading north and northeast toward Red Rock brings the Red Rock Creek system into focus. The city-connections map gives a straight-line distance of about 13 miles from Perry, and the terrain map shows numerous tributaries feeding the main creek between the two areas. Billings and Marland extend the comparison farther into the northern agricultural uplands.
Heading east toward Morrison leads into the Black Bear Creek lowland and toward the Arkansas River side of the county. Morrison is about 16 straight-line miles from Perry and lies on U.S. 64. Comparing this eastern lowland with the higher southwest of Perry shows the county’s west-to-east relief change clearly.
Choose the Noble County map that matches the question
For roads, towns, and the county outline, start with the general map. Find Perry first, then use U.S. 64, U.S. 77, and Interstate 35 to place Morrison, Red Rock, and Billings. The city-connections map is cleaner when the goal is simply to compare the direction and straight-line spacing of the main towns from Perry.
For water geography, begin with Red Rock Creek and Black Bear Creek and follow them toward the Arkansas River system. Open the elevation map next and compare those same corridors. The creek valleys form long low green bands, while the west and southwest contain the county’s higher rolling uplands.
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 Noble County map?
Perry is the best starting point because it is the county seat at U.S. 64 and U.S. 77 and lies close to Interstate 35. From Perry, Morrison, Red Rock, Billings, and the two major creek valleys are easy to place.
Why are Red Rock Creek and Black Bear Creek important on the map?
They are the county’s two principal internal drainage corridors. Both flow toward the Arkansas River system, and the elevation map shows their valleys as long lower bands cutting across the rolling uplands.
Can the 256–387 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The range is a county-scale reference for comparing higher uplands with lower creek and river valleys. Parcel elevations, drainage design, construction, road grades, and legal surveys require more precise data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Map File Information
Download Noble 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 – Noble County
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Perry
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Red Rock
- Noble County Government
- U.S. Census Bureau – TIGER/Line Shapefiles
- 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.
