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2011 Map of Black Butte

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Black Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Black Butte and the surrounding high plains of Slope County define this remote landscape at the turn of the 21st century. The map provides a detailed look at the ranching heritage of western North Dakota, documenting family-named holdings such as the Aus Ranch, Lambourn Ranch, and Pope Ranch. These estates are connected by a sparse network of section-line roads like County Rd, illustrating the vast distances between neighbors in this cattle-grazing country.

Erosional features dominate the topography, with Sand Creek carving through the terrain amidst distinct landmarks like Tepee Butte, Slide Butte, and Browns Hill. The survey includes numerous numbered locations, likely representing forest service or agricultural management points. For genealogists and local historians, these specific ranch names and landforms like Boulder Point offer a precise record of land occupancy and natural orientation in the Badlands region during this era.