1966 Map of Beaver Creek School

About this map

Beaver Creek School stands as a focal point in this high-plains landscape, situated along the north-south drainage of Beaver Creek. The topography is defined by the expansive Custer National Forest and a series of deep draws and creeks that supported a dispersed ranching economy. This mid-century survey reveals an intricate network of water management features, including Main Ash Reservoir, Sawmill Reservoir, and several reservoirs along Deer Creek, alongside numerous named springs like Main Ash Spring and Cabin Creek Spring. These scattered water sources and wells, such as the Upper Deer Creek Well and Maxwell Well, indicate the essential infrastructure required for survival and livestock in the Powder River Basin. The rugged network of unimproved roads and fire breaks throughout Darling Draw and Sartin Draw underscores the isolation of the rural schoolhouses and private claims that once dotted this Montana cattle country.