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1962 Map of Beaverhead Rock NE

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

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Beaverhead River and Ruby River converge in this Madison County landscape, defining an era of intensive water management and agricultural engineering. In 1962, the region was undergoing a significant transformation as the East Bench Canal (Under Construction) was being carved across the benchlands to expand irrigation. This massive project, accompanied by an Aqueduct, reflects the post-war push to stabilize ranching and farming in southwest Montana.

Evidence of earlier settler history is visible in the intricate network of water rights, seen in features like the Seyler-Tash Ditch and Thompson Ditch. The presence of the Northern Pacific railroad along Georgia Gulch highlights the importance of rail transport for moving livestock and minerals. Named landmarks like Shoe Mule Bench and Sarge Hall provide a glimpse into the local vernacular of the period, while numerous small water bodies such as Wisconsin Creek and Mill Slough illustrate the natural hydrology that these irrigation works sought to harness.