1997 Map of Blue Buttes

About this map

Hawkeye Valley and the surrounding badlands of McKenzie County define this landscape as it appeared in the late twentieth century. The map highlights a remote ranching and industrial frontier where the Little Missouri National Grassland meets the western edge of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Settlement is sparse, represented by family operations like the Van Dyke Ranch and Keogh Ranch, while the local social fabric is marked by the Redeemer Cem and Reservation Sch. The terrain is punctuated by distinctive landforms, including Blue Buttes, Table Butte, and Chimney Butte. These geological features overlook a landscape increasingly shaped by energy extraction, evidenced by a large Oil Field, the Texaco Office, and multiple industrial pipelines. The inclusion of the Keogh Airstrip underscores the vast distances and specialized infrastructure required to manage these isolated prairie resources.