2020 Map of Big Dry School

About this map

Big Dry School stands as a central landmark in this sparse Garfield County landscape, situated where Dutton Rd intersects the local drainage network. The terrain is defined by the winding course of Big Dry Cr and its many tributary coulees, which carve deep channels through the plains. The map records several named geographical features, including Long Coulee and McClay Coulee in the north, and Harston Coulee to the southeast. These family-named landforms and the placement of the schoolhouse suggest a history of ranching and rural education in a territory where settlement follows the available water and road access, such as Steve's Fork Rd. The sparse density of structures emphasizes the isolated character of this region of Montana.