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1948 Map of Chalk Hills

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Chalk Hills
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Chalk Hills defines this high desert landscape in Owyhee County, where deep drainages like Halfway Gulch and Twentymile Gulch carve through the arid terrain. Mapping efforts in the late 1940s recorded a sparse but vital network of water sources and ranching outposts essential to life in this remote corner of Idaho. The seasonal hydrology of the region is evident in features such as Mud Flat and the meandering course of Shoofly Creek, which is paralleled by the primitive Shoofly Road.

Human activity is centered on isolated family holdings, including Parker Ranch and the Al Sadie Ranch near the southern boundary. A small Cem (cemetery) located near the creek suggests the long-term presence of ranching families in this environment. The map details a complex system of seasonal waterways, including Jacks Creek and Waterspout Creek, that supported the livestock operations of the mid-20th century.