1982 Map of Bessie Butte

About this map

Bessie Butte and its surrounding high plains landscape define this region of Ziebach County in the early 1980s. Located along the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation Boundary, the map detail focuses on the intricate drainage systems that feed the area's river basins. A dense network of seasonal waterways, including Butcher Creek and Red Coal Creek, carves through the terrain, illustrating the natural erosion patterns characteristic of the South Dakota prairie. The map captures a transition point at the border of Meade County and Ziebach County, where prominent landmarks like Mud Butte and the winding course of Red Scaffold Creek provide essential orientation for researchers and land surveyors. This provisional survey provides a precise record of the land's contours and remote ranch roads before later modernization of the local infrastructure.