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1957 Map of Butcher Hill

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Butcher Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Custer State Park and the northern edge of Wind Cave National Park anchor this late-1950s survey of the Black Hills foothills. The landscape is defined by its drainage systems and sharp topography, with French Creek and Lame Johnny Creek cutting eastward toward the prairie. The presence of the Chicago and North Western railroad line in the southeast corner highlights the era's vital transportation corridor, while the notation of several educational landmarks suggests a shifting rural population.

Evidence of earlier settlement patterns is visible in the identification of Fairview Sch and French Creek Sch, contrasting with the active Dry Creek Sch. Landmarks like Butcher Hill, Racetrack Butte, and Jolly Flats provide specific points of reference for those tracing historical land use or family ties to Custer County. The map also bears the unique administrative imprint of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, reflecting the strategic interests of the mid-century period in this region.