1957 Map of Billings West

About this map

The Rimrocks formation stands as the defining geologic barrier overlooking the burgeoning expansion of the city below. This mid-century survey documents the urban development of the Billings Bench and the growth surrounding major institutions like Eastern Montana College and Rocky Mountain College. Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Burlington Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, alongside the historic Lewis and Clark Trail. To the north, the landscape remains dominated by ranching, with the Twin Pines Ranch and several forks of Alkali Creek carving through the terrain. The map captures the transition from irrigated agriculture—evidenced by the Big Ditch, Snow Ditch, and Arnold Drain—into the residential and commercial blocks that defined the area by the 1960s. For the local historian, it provides an exact layout of vanished landmarks and civic centers, including Logan Field and the Naval Armory.