Loading map...

1962 Map of Beaverhead Rock

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Beaverhead Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The confluence and intricate water systems of the Big Hole River and Beaverhead River define this portion of Madison Co. Published in the early 1960s, the map reveals a landscape heavily modified for agriculture through an extensive network of irrigation works, including the Balkovetz Giem Standovich Whiting Ditch and Burma Canal. These long, hyphenated ditch names suggest the cooperative effort of local ranching families to manage water in this semi-arid valley.

Settlement is concentrated at Point of Rocks and the nearby Point of Rocks Cem, while the northern reaches feature the recreational landmark of Biltmore Hot Springs. Distinctive river features like Mule Shoe Bend and Island are traced alongside numerous backwaters such as Schoolhouse Slough and Albers Slough. The prominent geological formation of Beaverhead Rock stands as a sentinel over the valley floor, marking a historic navigational point in the drainage.