Stephens County lies in southern Oklahoma, with Duncan serving as the clearest reference point for understanding the county. U.S. 81 links Duncan with Marlow to the north and Comanche to the south, while a wider network of numbered highways reaches east toward smaller communities and rural areas. The maps on this page also reveal a strong physical contrast: higher ground dominates much of the north, whereas lower valleys and a dense web of creeks become more evident farther south.
This page combines a general county map, a ranked settlement map, a terrain-and-water view, and an elevation map so readers can compare roads, communities, lakes, streams, and relief without leaving the article. High-resolution JPG originals can be downloaded together as a ZIP from the download box near the end of the page. These maps are intended for regional orientation, education, and general reference rather than parcel surveying, legal boundary decisions, engineering design, or real-time travel conditions.
Table of Contents
Using Duncan as the main reference point
Duncan sits in the western half of the county and is the easiest place to use as an anchor. The Stephens County Courthouse is labeled within the city, and Halliburton Field appears just to the south. U.S. 81 runs north-south through this part of the county, placing Marlow above Duncan and Comanche below it. Once those three locations are established, most of the western road network becomes much easier to follow.
Highway 7 leaves the Duncan area and crosses a large part of central Stephens County toward the east. Highway 29 provides another east-west reference in the north near Marlow, while Highway 53 crosses the southeast around Loco and continues toward the county line. Route numbers 13 and 17 appear in the east-central area, and 76 is visible near the northeastern edge. These numbered routes are especially useful because the eastern half has fewer large towns to use as landmarks.
Several smaller communities help define the outer parts of the county. Central High lies northwest of Duncan, Empire City is to the southwest, and Bray is positioned well to the northeast of the main U.S. 81 settlement corridor. Sunray appears south of Duncan before Comanche. The pattern is not a continuous urban belt; instead, a few larger communities are connected by highways while smaller places occupy wider rural spaces between them.
The surrounding counties also provide useful orientation. Grady County borders the north, Comanche and Cotton counties lie to the west, Jefferson County is to the southwest, and Carter and Garvin counties are on the eastern side. Labels such as Foster and Ratliff City appear just beyond the Stephens County boundary on the general map, making it easier to see how local roads continue into neighboring areas.
How U.S. 81 and the east-west highways organize travel
U.S. 81 is the most intuitive transportation line on the map. It enters the county from the north, passes through Marlow, continues into Duncan, and runs south toward Comanche. Because the county’s three most prominent urban references are arranged along this route, U.S. 81 works well as a starting line for comparing distances and directions even before smaller roads are considered.
Duncan also serves as the meeting area for east-west travel. Highway 7 extends across the county toward the less populated eastern half, while Highway 29 crosses the northern part near Marlow. Farther south, Highway 53 provides a diagonal and east-west connection through the Loco area. Together, these roads create a simple mental framework: U.S. 81 explains the main north-south settlement pattern, while the numbered state routes provide access to outlying parts of the county.
The road map should not be treated as a live routing service. Construction, closures, intersection changes, and local access rules can change after a static image is produced. For a trip, the map is best used to understand the larger geography first, followed by current navigation and Oklahoma transportation information for turn-by-turn decisions. This is particularly important on smaller rural roads that may look connected on a regional map but differ in surface, maintenance, or access.
Where the leading communities are concentrated
The settlement map makes the western concentration of population easy to see. Duncan ranks first among the labeled communities, with Marlow second and Comanche third. Central High, Bray, and Empire City complete the six-place index. The ranking is useful because it separates the main population centers from the many smaller names that appear on the more detailed county map.
Duncan and Marlow are fairly close to one another along U.S. 81, and Comanche continues the same north-south pattern farther south. Bray is different: it sits in the northeastern interior, separated from the main urban corridor by a broad rural area. Central High lies near the northwestern side, while Empire City is southwest of Duncan. That arrangement shows why Stephens County cannot be understood as a single line of towns even though U.S. 81 is its strongest transportation reference.
The eastern half has no comparable cluster of top-ranked communities. Roads and waterways therefore become more useful than city names when locating features in that part of the county. A reader looking east of Duncan can begin with Highway 7, then use Bray, Loco, and nearby creek labels to narrow down a location. In the west, by contrast, the sequence of Duncan, Marlow, and Comanche provides a much more immediate frame of reference.
The ranked city map is a geographic index, not a substitute for current population statistics or municipal boundary data. Population estimates change, and the limits of incorporated places may be revised over time. For detailed demographic work, the U.S. Census Bureau should be consulted directly. Here, the purpose of the ranking is to clarify where the county’s main communities sit in relation to roads, water features, and terrain.
Lakes and creeks across the county
The water map reveals a dense drainage network that is easy to miss on the road-focused view. Duncan Lake lies near the central part of the county, Lake Humphreys is farther north, Outlaw Lake appears in the northwest, and Comanche Lake is in the southern interior. These lakes are linked visually to numerous small tributaries, so the county looks less like a flat open block and more like a landscape divided into many shallow valleys.
Wildhorse Creek is one of the clearest named streams in the east-central section, and Big Rock Creek runs through the eastern side. Little Beaver Creek and Stage Stand Creek appear in the northwest, while Dry Creek is prominent in the southwest. Smaller unnamed tributaries branch away from these channels across much of the map. Following the stronger blue lines first and then tracing their tributaries is an effective way to understand how the local valleys fit together.
Duncan Lake and Lake Humphreys are useful landmarks because both sit near the central-to-northern part of the county but occupy different drainage settings. Around each lake, smaller channels approach from several directions. Comanche Lake anchors the southern interior and provides another water reference close to the U.S. 81 community corridor. These features help connect the human geography of the road map with the natural geography shown by the terrain.
This map does not show flood zones, water quality, reservoir operating rules, or current recreation conditions. A named creek can change quickly after heavy rain, and lake access may depend on local rules or land ownership that a regional map cannot display. For boating, fishing, flood planning, or engineering work, current information from USGS and the relevant state or local agencies should be checked separately.
Elevation from about 266 to 440 meters
The elevation map shows the clearest north-south contrast in the set. Its legend reports an actual elevation range of about 266 to 440 meters, with a mean near 334 meters. Broad brown and tan areas cover much of the north, indicating higher ground, while greener colors become more common toward the southern half. The total local range exceeds 170 meters, enough to create noticeable differences in ridge and valley form across the county.
North of Duncan and around the Marlow side of the county, the shaded relief contains long, irregular ridges separated by branching valleys. Moving south toward Comanche, lower terrain becomes more widespread. The water map helps explain part of that pattern because creeks occupy many of the lower corridors. Dry Creek in the southwest and Wildhorse Creek farther east are good examples of named channels that can be compared with the green valley tones on the elevation view.
The east is not uniformly low. Narrow ridges and higher patches interrupt the valleys, especially in the northeastern and east-central parts of the county. Big Rock Creek and its tributaries cut through a landscape with repeated changes in height. It is more accurate to describe Stephens County as generally higher in the north and lower in the south while recognizing many smaller ridges and drainage valleys within that broad pattern.
The color scale is adjusted for Stephens County, so the same shade should not be compared directly with a map of another county unless the legend values are also checked. The shaded relief is excellent for seeing local form, but it is not a surveyed elevation surface for individual parcels. Construction, drainage design, road grading, and other precision work should use original USGS elevation data or professional survey measurements.
Connecting the western community corridor with the higher north
Stephens County becomes easier to understand when the settlement pattern and relief are considered together. Duncan, Marlow, and Comanche create a strong western reference along U.S. 81, but the physical landscape does not follow the same simple line. Higher terrain spreads across much of the north, and numerous creek valleys cut through both the central and eastern parts of the county. The result is a county where roads provide the clearest human framework while water and elevation explain much of the natural form.
The northern part is especially useful for comparing the maps. Marlow and Highway 29 are easy to locate on the road map, while the elevation view shows broad high ground in the same general area. Lake Humphreys and smaller channels occupy lower cuts within that terrain. Looking at those features together gives a more complete picture than treating the road, water, and elevation maps as unrelated products.
Farther south, Comanche provides a settlement anchor near a generally lower landscape. Comanche Lake and Dry Creek help locate the southern drainage network, while Highway 53 and Route 89 serve as references in the southeast. The lower colors do not mean that the southern half is perfectly flat; shaded relief still shows many small ridges and valleys. They simply indicate that the overall elevation is lower than the broad high ground farther north.
Choosing the most useful map for a specific task
For basic orientation, start with Duncan and U.S. 81 on the general county map. From there, Marlow, Comanche, Central High, Bray, and Empire City can be placed in context along with the major east-west highways. This view is also the best choice when neighboring counties and outlying place names matter because it retains more geographic context than the simplified settlement index.
If the goal is to explain where the leading communities are concentrated, the ranked settlement map removes much of the extra detail and makes the west-heavy pattern obvious. Water-focused work is better served by the terrain-and-water map, where Duncan Lake, Lake Humphreys, Comanche Lake, Wildhorse Creek, Big Rock Creek, and smaller tributaries are visible. The elevation view is most useful when the distinction between northern high ground and lower southern valleys needs to be emphasized.
For reports, classroom materials, or printed reference sheets, use the high-resolution JPG originals rather than enlarging the smaller web previews. Keep the original aspect ratio so labels and boundaries are not distorted. Cropping can be useful when a presentation needs only one part of the county, but the county outline, nearby roads, and enough surrounding context should remain visible whenever location relationships are important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which map is best for locating Duncan, Marlow, and Comanche together?
The general county map is the best starting point. Duncan sits in the western half of the county, with Marlow to the north and Comanche to the south along U.S. 81. Highways 7, 29, and 53 provide additional east-west references, so the three principal communities can be viewed together with the larger road network.
Where can I see Duncan Lake and Wildhorse Creek most clearly?
The terrain-and-water map shows them most clearly. Duncan Lake appears near the center, Lake Humphreys lies farther north, and Wildhorse Creek crosses the east-central part of the county. Outlaw Lake, Comanche Lake, Big Rock Creek, Little Beaver Creek, Stage Stand Creek, and Dry Creek are also labeled, making it easier to compare the main lakes and drainage channels.
What elevation range does the Stephens County map show?
The elevation legend reports an actual range of about 266 to 440 meters and a mean near 334 meters. Higher terrain is most extensive across the northern part of the county, while lower colors become more common toward the south and along creek valleys. Those values are appropriate for regional comparison, not parcel-level surveying or engineering calculations.
Map File Information
High-resolution JPG originals of the Stephens County maps shown in this article are provided together in one ZIP file. They are useful for printing, classroom materials, offline reference, and document layouts where small labels and boundary lines need to remain readable.
- Included Files: general county map, ranked settlement map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map
- Printable Size: 3638 × 2572 px each
- File Type: JPG
Related Maps
Sources and reference links
- Oklahoma Department of Transportation — Stephens County Map — official county reference for roads, communities, and boundaries.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles — official geographic data for county boundaries and transportation features.
- USGS National Hydrography — national reference data for rivers, streams, and waterbodies.
- USGS 3D Elevation Program — official elevation and terrain data.
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.
