1912 Map of Chelsea

About this map

The Fort Peck Indian Reservation dominates the northern landscape of this 1912 survey, where the wide meanders of the Missouri River define the southern reaches. Along the northern bank, the Great Northern railroad provides a vital link for the settlement of Chelsea, while the southern terrain is marked by the drainages of Nickwall Creek and Redwater Creek. The map documents a period of transition as the survey by the General Land Office and the Missouri River Commission captures the precise Boundary Line between Valley and Dawson counties. Small outposts like Nickwall and Burch are situated among the coulees and upland benches, illustrating the sparse but strategic settlement patterns of northeastern Montana before later irrigation and dam projects altered the river's character.