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1951 Map of Cedar Butte NW

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Cedar Butte NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation lands dominate the western portion of this 1951 landscape, where the meandering course of Black Pipe Creek and Cottonwood Creek carve through the high plains. The map captures a moment of remote ranching and spiritual life in the early 1950s, centered around the Walker Ranch and the community hub at Church Creek Ch and its accompanying Church Creek Ch Cem.

A network of seasonal drainages including Porcupine Creek, Simms Creek, and Paulmyer Creek crisscross the terrain, meeting at traditional crossing points like Rocky Ford. The boundary between Washabaugh and Mellette counties bisects the area, providing a precise record of jurisdictional lines and early road networks before further development in south-central South Dakota. Landmarks such as Horseshoe Butte serve as significant navigational points in this prairie environment.