1965 Map of Calamity Coulee

About this map

Calamity Coulee and its neighboring drainages define the landscape of Garfield County in the mid-1960s, a period when this part of the Montana plains remained dominated by wide-open ranching country. The map captures a complex network of intermittent streams and coulees, including the winding Little Dry Creek and the curiously named Nighten-Heiser Coulee. A lone Cem (cemetery) located near Witchie Coulee provides a focal point for genealogical interest, representing the small, localized burial sites typical of early homesteading families in this region. The absence of major settlements highlights the land's orientation toward livestock and dryland utility, with features like Skunk Arroyo and Thompson Creek serving as the primary landmarks in an area defined by its hydrology and property fence lines.