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1951 Map of Chadborn

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Chadborn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Shields River winds through the expansive Shields Valley in this mid-century survey, which documents a landscape defined by ranching and the Burlington Northern railroad. The map serves as a detailed record of local family legacies, marking numerous established properties such as the Gibson Ranch, Tregloan Ranch, and Schindler Ranch. These holdings are concentrated along the river corridor and the base of the surrounding highlands, where tributaries like Brackett Creek and Crazyhead Creek descend into the valley.

Social and infrastructure hubs of the era are centered around the community of Chadborn and the nearby Chadbourne location, while the presence of the Cowan School highlights the rural educational network serving these disparate ranching families. The irrigation and water management needs of the valley are evidenced by various ditches and flumes noted along the river's path, providing insight into the agricultural engineering required to sustain these large-scale operations during the 1950s.