2021 Map of Buzzard Butte

About this map

Buzzard Butte stands as the primary landmark in this section of the western South Dakota plains, situated within the expansive ranchlands of Jackson County. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral drainage patterns of Settin Up Cr in the northern reaches and the headwaters of Buzzard Cr further south. This 2021 survey illustrates the modern rural infrastructure of the region, where gravel access routes like Buzzard Butte Rd and various county section roads including CS 63 provide the only movement across the high prairie. The boundary line for Jackson Co Bennett Co cuts horizontally across the lower third of the quadrangle, marking the transition between jurisdictions. The map captures a largely unpopulated landscape where topographic relief is subtle, save for the prominent rise of the namesake butte, reflecting the enduring character of the Great Plains interior.