1979 Map of Chalk Buttes

About this map

Chalk Buttes dominate this landscape within the eastern reaches of the Custer National Forest, where the high plains meet sharp escarpments. The map documents a sparsely populated ranching territory centered on the Laird Ranch and its adjacent Landing Strip, illustrating the reliance on small-scale aviation and specialized water management in this arid Montana environment. Named springs like Alstrom Spring, Birch Spring, and Pete Spring are vital lifebloods for the area, feeding into drainages such as Buffalo Creek and Schultz Creek. Evidence of local lineage and the early hardships of prairie life appears at the isolated Cem located near Hehn Draw. From the Blue Mud Hills in the south to the Trenk Pass and Trenk Reservoir in the north, the map preserves the specific topography of Carter County before modern development altered these remote homesteading sites.