1958 Map of Billings

About this map

Billings serves as the focal point of this 1958 landscape, situated where the Northern Pacific RR and Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR converge along the Yellowstone River. The geography transitions from the extensive Crow Indian Reservation in the east to the high elevations of the Beartooth Mountains and Custer National Forest in the southwest. This era captures the region's mid-century infrastructure, including U.S. 10 and U.S. 310, which linked ranching and mining communities like Red Lodge, Columbus, and Absarokee. North of the river, the Lake Basin and Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge denote a more arid, depression-filled terrain compared to the lush river valleys. Diverse landmarks like Buffalo Jump and Rattlesnake Butte reflect the long human history and distinct geology of the Yellowstone Valley.