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1959 Map of Arlee

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Arlee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Arlee serves as a central hub in this 1950s landscape, situated within the Flathead Indian Reservation where the Jocko River meets the rail lines of the Northern Pacific. The map captures a moment when the transportation network was heavily defined by the convergence of the Northern Pacific and the C M ST P & P railroads, particularly evident near Frenchtown and Evaro. This area is characterized by the high terrain of the Lolo Divide and the Lolo National Forest, with deep gulches like Lion Gulch and Frog Gulch draining toward the valley floors.

Local history and genealogy researchers will find significant detail in the placement of rural homesteads and infrastructure, including the Nielson Ranch, Baldwin Ranch, and the Frenchtown Cem. The presence of the Agency and Schley settlements, alongside specialized sites like the Fish Hatchery and several Gravel Pits, reflects a diverse mid-century economy of government administration, resource extraction, and agriculture. The complex water management system is visible through features like the Frenchtown Mill Ditch, which redirect water across the varied topography of Lake Co and Missoula Co.