2012 Map of Cedar Butte NE

About this map

Cottonwood Cr winds through the southern reaches of this Mellette County landscape, defining a drainage pattern typical of the South Dakota plains. The map reveals a pastoral economy structured around established family holdings, including the Braunson Ranch and England Ranch in the north and the Dixon Ranch and Glenn Ranch further south. These named properties serve as primary landmarks in a region largely defined by its intricate network of seasonal waterways. In addition to the larger Cottonwood drainage, smaller tributaries like Larvie Cr, Runs Close Cr, and Yukmi Cr carve through the terrain, illustrating the hydrological dependencies of ranching life in the early 21st century. The sparse infrastructure, consisting primarily of section-line roads and ranch access points, highlights the low-density settlement of the Swift Bear Segment.