1968 Map of Buffalo Lake

About this map

The Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana is defined here by a series of prominent buttes and the drainage networks that carve the plains. Buffalo Lake and Little Buffalo Lake anchor the northern landscape, providing vital water sources in this high-altitude terrain. The map documents a sparsely settled ranching environment in the late 1960s, evidenced by the Branderval Ranch and scattered wells. The topography is dominated by dramatic elevation changes at Chalk Butte and the long spine of Horsethief Ridge, which separates the seasonal flows of Big Crown Coulee and Little Rock Coulee. This survey illustrates the intricate relationship between the natural water runoff, such as South Fork Little Rock Coulee, and the grazing lands utilized by residents within the reservation boundaries during this era.