1956 Map of Billings East

About this map

Yellowstone River defines the industrial and geographic character of this Montana landscape as it looked in the mid-1950s. The city of Billings Bench and its surrounding agricultural districts rely on an extensive network of irrigation ditches and canals, including the Billings Bench system, to transform the arid terrain north of the river. The area's burgeoning industrial sector is evident in the sprawling Oil Refinery, numerous Oil Tanks, and the complex rail infrastructure of the Northern Pacific railroad. Historic local landmarks such as Boothill Cem and Sacrifice Cliff provide a glimpse into the region's earlier heritage, while several rural schools like Pioneer Sch and Hawthorn Sch mark the growth of outlying neighborhoods. The map captures the transition from open range and islands like Cherry Island to a modernizing urban center anchored by the Rimrocks formation.