1958 Map of Black Spring

About this map

The Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation Boundary divides the landscape where Rosebud and Big Horn counties meet. This terrain, mapped for the Missouri River Basin development program in the late 1950s, is defined by an intricate network of drainage systems feeding into Rosebud Creek. The northern portion is dominated by the many branches of Cottonwood Creek, including Little Cottonwood Creek and the South Fork Cottonwood Creek. Isolated water sources such as Lynch Spring, Indian Coulee Spring, and the titular Black Spring provided essential hubs for cattle and wildlife in an otherwise arid environment. Evidence of movement across the ridgelines is preserved in several Jeep Trails that navigate the coulees, tracing routes through Lynch Coulee and alongside Water Holes Creek.