1958 Map of Choteau

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the central spine of this 1958 survey, separating the high peaks of the Lewis and Clark Range from the vast irrigated plains to the east. The map captures the specialized agricultural and water-management systems of Teton County, where the Teton River and Sun River feed a network of storage sites like Pishkun Reservoir, Bynum Reservoir, and Willow Creek Reservoir. These man-made features contrast with the alpine terrain of the Flathead National Forest and the Mission Range to the west, where chains of glacial waters including Swan Lake and Seeley Lake dominate the valley floors. Settlement is concentrated along the rail lines that served the region's ranching and grain interests. The Great Northern RR reaches into Choteau and Bynum, while the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific RR terminates near Gilman and Augusta, marking the transition between the mountain wilderness and the open prairie.