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1966 Map of Ajax Ranch

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Ajax Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Ajax Ranch sits within the drainage basin of Big Lake Creek, representing a high-country ranching landscape in the mid-1960s. Located within the Beaverhead National Forest, this terrain is defined by a dense network of mountain waterways, including the descriptively named Slag-a-melt Creek and Swamp Creek. The presence of Twin Lakes Cow Camp further illustrates the seasonal grazing patterns and livestock infrastructure central to this part of Beaverhead County.

The hydrology of the area is particularly complex, with Sawmill Creek and Rock Creek feeding into the larger valley systems. Unimproved roads and trails connect these remote outposts, tracing the contours of the forest. This survey captures the land before significant modern development, showing the established footprints of ranching life and the names given to the small tributaries like Little Creek and Miner Creek by those who worked the land.