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1956 Map of Billings East

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Billings East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Yellowstone River snakes through the center of this mid-century survey, dividing the expanding industrial and residential core of Billings from the rising plateaus to the south and east. Along the northern banks, the Billings Bench supports a complex network of irrigation, including the McGirl Ditch and the Billings Bench Water Association Canal, illustrating the vital role of water management in the region's agricultural development. The landscape is punctuated by distinct geological formations like the Rimrocks and the prominent Sacrifice Cliff overlooking the river valley.

Industrial growth is evident near the Northern Pacific tracks, where an Oil Refinery and various municipal facilities stand near the Yellowstone Fairgrounds. Local history is deeply embedded in the map's labels, from the storied Boothill Cem to numerous rural schoolhouses such as the Pioneer Sch and Independent Dist 52 Sch. The transition from urban centers like South Park to the outlying community of Hirsch reveals the settlement patterns of Yellowstone County during this era of post-war expansion.