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Upon inspection of a detailed map, one finds that the northwest corner of Texas' panhandle is not the same point as the southwest corner of Oklahoma's panhandle. This is because New Mexico "wraps" around the Texas panhandle for about two miles before it reaches Oklahoma. These photos were taken at the location of the tri-state point, looking north. The dirt road running across the photos marks the north boundary of Texas, and the road running off into the distance serves as the border between New Mexico (on the left) and Oklahoma (on the right)...
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Sanderson, fall 1991
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Morrison, Apr. 2017
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...or at least that is what I would assume. However, visible in the foreground of those photos is a USGS benchmark, which is shown close-up here:
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Morrison, Apr. 2017
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It includes a diagram illustrating the tri-state point and noting the township, range, and section numbers for the corners of NM and OK (Texas was not surveyed under the PLSS). But notice that the benchmark does not specify that the actual point is located a certain number of feet to the northeast (at the road intersection). So I am uncertain whether the actual tri-state point is exactly at the location of the benchmark, or whether it is at the road intersection. If it is at the location of the benchmark, then that means between the benchmark and the road is a very narrow strip of NM and OK, which seems like it would be quite awkward. For example, in the photo above, I would have actually been standing in the extreme southwest corner of Oklahoma's panhandle, even though I was on the south side of the fence.
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A couple other things to note here: the north-south road (shown running off into the distance above) also marks the Cimarron Meridian. About 200 feet in that direction (north) is where that meridian intersects its baseline, and another survey monument is located there. That is the initial point for the entire Oklahoma panhandle; all surveys are referenced to that point. Also, the northwest corner of Texas' panhandle is a mile or two to the west (left).
Research and/or photo credits: Jeff Morrison; Dale Sanderson
Page originally created 1998;
last updated Sep. 11, 2017.
last updated Sep. 11, 2017.
