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1967 Map of Benzien

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Benzien
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Benzien sits at the base of this Garfield County landscape, positioned near the confluence of several water systems. The terrain is defined by the prominent Blue Ridge, which acts as a topographical spine separating the drainages to the north and south. To the north, Little Squaw Creek and various coulees like Curry Coulee and Seventynine Coulee cut through the high plains, while the southern portion of the map is dominated by the winding path of Lodgepole Creek.

The presence of scattered wells suggests a reliance on groundwater for ranching operations in this semi-arid environment during the late 1960s. Narrow seasonal waterways such as Dead Horse Coulee and Cottonwood Coulee illustrate the complex drainage patterns feeding into the Middle Fork and North Fork systems. This map captures a moment in Montana's rural history where ranching boundaries, indicated by fine fence lines, intersect with the ancient geography of the Missouri River breaks region.