1963 Map of Black Butte

About this map

The rugged topography of Black Butte and St Paul Gulch dominates this 1963 survey of Jefferson County. Located along the western edge of the Deerlodge National Forest, the landscape is defined by ranching and mining activities concentrated near the drainages of Whitetail Creek and Fitz Creek. Local ranching history is evidenced by the Forcella Ranch and Whitehall Ranch, while the older settlement patterns of the area can be traced at the Old Whitehall Cem. Prospectors and miners once combed the slopes of the forest, leaving behind numerous Mines and Prospects that punctuate the higher elevations near Sunlight. The water resources of the high country, including Tobay Spring and South Cottonwood Spring, appear essential for supporting these remote operations and livestock in the arid Montana foothills.