1970 Map of Belle Creek SW

About this map

Ranch Creek and the South Fork Wright Creek define the drainage patterns of this borderland region where the High Plains of Montana meet Wyoming. Mapped just after the 1960s, the landscape shows a clear focus on energy extraction, evidenced by numerous Oil Well and Drill Hole locations scattered across the townships. The Ranch Creek Cem stands as a solitary marker of local family history near the creek's bend, while the Prairie Dog Hills rise in the southwestern corner. This 1970 field check documents the industrial infrastructure of the era, including a major Pipeline cutting diagonally across the prairie, reflecting the mid-century development of the Powder River Basin oil fields.