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1956 Map of Billings East

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Billings East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Yellowstone River and the steep escarpment of the Rimrocks dominate this mid-century view of the area surrounding Billings. The map documents a period of significant industrial and infrastructural development, visible in the presence of an Oil Refinery, the Burlington Northern railroad lines, and the extensive network of irrigation ditches such as those crossing the Billings Bench. This landscape is a hybrid of working industrial zones and established community landmarks, from the Yellowstone Fairgrounds near the river to the residential growth reflected in numerous local schools like Pioneer Sch and Hawthorn Sch.

Cultural and historical layers are preserved through labels like Sacrifice Cliff and the Lewis and Clark Trail, which track alongside the river's path. Local heritage is further grounded by the inclusion of Boothill Cem and Riverside Cem. The survey detail captures the city's expansion toward Lake Elmo (Holling Res), showing the intersection of natural river features like Cherry Island with the growing urban grid.