The first settler in Meade county was Miles Mix, who located on Crooked creek, on Township 37, Range 80 west, in the fall of 1877. The next settlement was made by J. H. Crossman and five others, June 2, 1878. In October, 1878, it was estimated that one hundred heads of families had located themselves principally on Crooked creek, in the northern part of the county; and they will bring their families as soon as they can make the necessary preparations.
There is no town in the county, but 640 acres have been laid out for a town, and one frame and two concrete buildings erected.
Face of the Country. - The face of the country is gently undulating. In the northern portion of the county there is very little distinction between the bottoms and uplands; but, in the southern part, the banks of the streams are more abrupt, and the bottom lands are better defined.
Timber. - Small quantities of timber are found on the banks of Crooked creek, principally cottonwood and hackberry. There is no other timber in the county.
Principal Streams. - The principal streams are Crooked creek, which runs from the northwest part of the county in an easterly direction for about 20 miles, when it turns to the south and leaves the county near the southeast corner. The Cimarron river runs across the northwest corner of the county. There is a pond in Township 34, Range 30, covering some five acres, which is connected with the Cimarron river by Goose creek. There are two creeks, called Big Spring and Little Spring, which are fed by springs, in the central and western part of the county, and empty into Crooked creek.
The soil is a rich sandy loam. There are some peat meadows; one of these, in the central part of the county, has been tested and the peat found to burn readily.
Buffalo grass prevails on the uplands, and blue stem and other wild grasses on the bottoms. Considerable hay was put up in the bottoms in the fall of 1878.
There are no schools or churches in the county as yet,
Building Stone, etc. - Of building stone there is a good supply; three kinds of limestone being found-the white chalky, magnesian, and the ordinary limestone that prevails throughout the State. A "natural mortar," made of the earth, is used for building purposes.
Lands. - The lands in the county are all Government, with the exception of the odd sections in one township in the northeast corner.
