Nowata County occupies a long north-south strip of northeastern Oklahoma between the Kansas line and the upper end of Oologah Lake. Nowata is the county seat at U.S. 60 and U.S. 169, while Delaware, Lenapah, and South Coffeyville form a clear sequence northward along U.S. 169. The Verdigris River cuts through the central part of the county and gives the landscape its strongest physical reference. The maps on this page can be viewed online, and their original high-resolution JPG files are available together in a downloadable ZIP for printing or closer study.
The river is also the best key to understanding the terrain. The Oklahoma Historical Society explains that the Verdigris roughly divides Nowata County into eastern and western halves and receives most of the county’s stream drainage. The far western edge drains toward the Caney River instead. In the south, the Verdigris widens into the northern reach of Oologah Lake. The elevation map shows the river corridor as a long low belt between higher ridges along both sides of the county.
Table of Contents
U.S. 169 ties Nowata to Delaware, Lenapah, and the Kansas line
Nowata is the clearest starting point on the general county map. The Oklahoma Historical Society places the county seat at the junction of U.S. Highways 60 and 169. U.S. 169 then provides a simple north-south frame for the county, linking Nowata with Delaware, Lenapah, and South Coffeyville. Watova lies south of Nowata, while the largest east-west road reference is U.S. 60.
Continuing north on U.S. 169 brings Delaware first, then Lenapah, and finally South Coffeyville close to the Kansas border. The sequence makes the otherwise elongated county easy to remember. Wann is separated from that corridor near the western boundary, and New Alluwe lies in the southeast closer to the Oologah Lake side.
State Highway 28 runs east from the Delaware area toward the southeastern side, while additional state routes serve the Lenapah and northeastern sections. Craig County borders the east, Washington County the west, and Rogers County the south. Montgomery and Labette counties in Kansas touch the northern boundary, so interstate orientation is unusually important for a county of this size.
Six highlighted towns reveal a strongly linear settlement pattern
The city distribution map highlights Nowata, South Coffeyville, Delaware, Lenapah, Wann, and New Alluwe. Nowata is the largest reference on the supplied graphic, and three of the other principal communities line up along U.S. 169 to the north. Wann sits near the Washington County line, while New Alluwe marks the southeastern side close to the reservoir landscape.
Delaware and Lenapah are useful checkpoints between Nowata and the Kansas line. Lenapah also lies close to the central Verdigris River lowland, making it easy to connect the city and water maps. South Coffeyville represents the cross-border end of the settlement corridor. Wann, by contrast, sits in higher western terrain with a different network of creeks.
The population-style figures printed on the supplied city map should be treated as reference values from the graphic rather than current estimates. Current population totals are better checked with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. For geographic orientation, the more useful information is how the towns relate to U.S. 169, the Verdigris River, and Oologah Lake.
The Verdigris River collects creeks before widening into Oologah Lake
The Verdigris River is the dominant water feature in Nowata County. It enters from Kansas, passes through the central county near Lenapah and east of Nowata, and continues south into the Oologah reservoir system. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes that most county creeks drain into this river basin. Its broad valley is therefore both a water feature and a major organizing element of the terrain.
California Creek descends through the western half toward the central river corridor, while Opossum Creek crosses the northwest. Coon Creek and South Fork Double Creek form additional valleys in the southwest. On the eastern side, Cedar Creek cuts through higher ground before approaching the Verdigris, and Mormon Creek provides another central-southern drainage reference.
Several smaller lakes appear around the river system, including Chouteau Lake, Melton Lake, Goose Neck Lake, Taylor Lake, Stone Lake, and Riley Lake. The largest water body is the northern arm of Oologah Lake in the southeast. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identifies Oologah as a multipurpose Verdigris River project used for flood control, water supply, navigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife.
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USGS, FEMA, state, and local information should be used for decisions around the Verdigris River and Oologah Lake.
Elevation from about 196 to 314 meters frames the Verdigris lowland
The elevation map gives Nowata County an actual range of about 196 to 314 meters, with a mean near 231 meters. The long central Verdigris corridor is the broadest green lowland, and the low terrain expands around the upper end of Oologah Lake. Higher tan and brown ground rises along the western and northwestern edges and appears again along much of the eastern boundary.
In the north, the river valley opens between rolling ridges on both sides. The South Coffeyville and Wann sides contain more elevated terrain, while Opossum Creek and California Creek cut lower passages through the western uplands. Lenapah sits close to the low central corridor and is a useful checkpoint for matching roads, water, and relief.
South of Nowata, the Verdigris lowland broadens as it approaches Oologah Lake. Higher ridges return around New Alluwe and near parts of the eastern county line, producing a strong contrast beside the reservoir. The western side of Nowata is also rolling rather than flat, with small creeks dividing modest uplands before descending toward the river.
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.
Delaware settlement and the railroad shaped the modern county
The area that became Nowata County was assigned to the Cherokee Nation after an 1828 treaty and became part of the Cooweescoowee District in 1856. The Oklahoma Historical Society records that an 1867 agreement between the Cherokee and Delaware peoples led to Eastern Delaware settlements near present-day Delaware, Lenapah, and Nowata. Those nineteenth-century settlement patterns are still visible in the town names and their locations today.
Nowata grew from a small trading post into a railroad town. The Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway reached the area in 1889, the same year a post office was established. The name is commonly linked to the Delaware expression “no-we-ata,” interpreted as “come here” or “welcome.” A railroad spelling of the name became Nowata, which was eventually used for both the town and county.
Nowata County was formally organized when Oklahoma became a state in 1907, with Nowata serving as the county seat. The discovery of oil and gas around 1904 created an early twentieth-century boom, and the Oklahoma Historical Society describes the Cherokee Shallow Sand District as one of the world’s major shallow oil fields. Later, construction of Oologah Lake changed the lower Verdigris landscape and added a large reservoir to the southeastern county.
Nowata offers three different comparisons: Lenapah, Wann, and New Alluwe
Nowata works well as the common checkpoint across the map set. U.S. 60 and U.S. 169 define the road location, the Verdigris River lies to the east, and the elevation map places the city between western rolling ground and the central river lowland. The city map also shows that Nowata is the southern anchor of the main U.S. 169 settlement sequence.
Heading north toward Lenapah follows the U.S. 169 corridor and stays close to the Verdigris drainage. The river valley becomes broader farther north, and South Coffeyville continues the same linear pattern to the Kansas line. Heading west toward Wann instead moves into higher ridges and different creek valleys.
New Alluwe provides a third contrast in the southeast. It sits close to the northern end of Oologah Lake and is linked to the central county by State Highway 28. The modern town occupies a landscape where the lake’s northern shoreline and higher eastern hills meet. Comparing these three directions shows the county’s river-centered structure clearly.
Choose the Nowata County map that matches the task
For roads, towns, and the county outline, begin with the general map. Find Nowata first and follow U.S. 169 through Delaware, Lenapah, and South Coffeyville. Add Wann on the west and New Alluwe on the southeast to establish the county’s full width. The city distribution map is cleaner when the goal is simply to compare the six highlighted communities.
For water geography, start with the Verdigris River and then add California Creek, Opossum Creek, Cedar Creek, and the smaller tributaries. Open the elevation map next and compare the same places. The river and reservoir occupy low central and southeastern terrain, while higher ridges frame both sides of the county.
The web previews are convenient for quick reference. The downloadable ZIP contains high-resolution JPG versions of the county-and-road, city distribution, 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 Nowata County map?
Nowata is the best starting point because it is the county seat at U.S. 60 and U.S. 169. From there, Delaware, Lenapah, and South Coffeyville form a clear northbound sequence, while Oologah Lake lies to the southeast.
Why is the Verdigris River so important to Nowata County geography?
The river forms the county’s main north-south lowland and receives most of its stream drainage. It also continues into the Oologah Lake system, so it connects the county’s creek valleys, relief, and southeastern reservoir landscape.
Can the 196–314 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The range is a county-scale reference for comparing the low river and reservoir corridor with higher ridges. Parcel elevations, drainage design, construction, road grades, and legal surveys require more precise data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Map File Information
Download Nowata 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 – Nowata County
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Nowata
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Oologah Lake
- 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.
