1976 Map of Choteau

About this map

Choteau and the surrounding high plains transition into the dramatic Front Range of the Rockies in this mid-1970s topographic record. The landscape is defined by the massive block of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness, areas where the Continental Divide snakes through peaks like Silvertip Mountain and Pentagon Mountain. East of the mountain front, the economy of the plains is visible through an extensive network of irrigation features including the Gibson Reservoir, Pishkun Reservoir, and Bynum Reservoir, which support agricultural communities like Fairfield and Bynum. The Great Northern Railway corridor serves as a vital artery for the region, connecting the county seat of Choteau with northern outposts like Farmington. From the dense timber of the Swan River State Forest to the open rangeland near Wolf Creek, the map captures the physical reality of Montana before the modern expansion of these gateways to the wilderness.