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1983 Map of Belle Fourche

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Belle Fourche
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Beller Fourche River and Redwater River converge at the western edge of this 1980s landscape, anchoring a region where irrigation and ranching intersect. Large water management features dominate the central plains, specifically the massive Belle Fourche Reservoir and the Newell Lake State Game Production Area, supporting the agricultural communities of Fruitdale, Nisland, and Newell. The map illustrates the logistical backbone of the Black Hills foothills, tracing the Chicago and North Western rail line as it connects the hub of Belle Fourche with smaller shipping points like Vale.

Scattered throughout the northern and eastern reaches are numerous family-named landmarks such as McClure Ranch and Kiplinger Ranch, interspersed with dramatic geological rises like Castle Rock and Sulphur Butte. This record captures the transition from the irrigated valley floors to the high, dry draws of the western South Dakota prairie, including the sprawling Windy Flats and the southern approach to Spearfish near the Lawrence Co boundary.