1975 Map of Belt SE

About this map

Otter Creek carves a deep meandering path through the high plains of Cascade County in this mid-1970s orthophoto. The settlement of Blythe sits at the junction of several drainage systems, reflecting the traditional pattern of locating central ranching hubs near reliable water and natural travel corridors. The imagery captures a landscape of intense topographic contrast, where the smooth surfaces of agricultural fields meet the intricate, eroded coulees and breaks of the Cora Creek watershed. This 1975 advance print illustrates the transition in mapping technology, using aerial photography to document the precise layout of field borders and road networks across the high Montana prairie before more modern development altered the ranching footprint.