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1907 Map of Belle Fourche

Name: 1907 Topographic Map of Belle Fourche
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1941
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1941

About this map

Belle Fourche serves as the focal point of this northern Great Plains landscape at the start of the 20th century. The confluence of the Belle Fourche River and Redwater Creek drives the local geography, supporting early irrigation efforts evidenced by the Redwater Ditch. To the south, the settlement of Minnesela appears just before it was largely eclipsed by the railroad growth of its neighbor.

The map details a ranching-dominated economy where isolated outposts like Indian Road Ranch and O Connors Ranch are essential landmarks across the open range. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations such as Antelope Butte in the north and the Haystack Buttes further south, providing a clear picture of the Butte and Lawrence County boundary regions. Numerous waterways, including Owl Creek and Horse Creek, create a complex drainage network vital to the livestock operations and early homesteads of the era.