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1961 Map of Christensen Ranch

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Christensen Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Christensen Ranch and several family-named homesteads define this landscape along the border of Beaverhead and Madison counties. Surveyed in the early 1960s, the map reveals a remote ranching economy centered on scattered water sources and seasonal camps. Key landmarks like Bishop Place, Sorensen Ranch, and Guidici Cowcamp indicate a pattern of high-country land use where small outposts were maintained far from major towns.

Mineral extraction is noted at The Iron Mine and various unnamed prospects, suggesting the area's geological diversity beyond its grazing value. The drainage network, featuring Hoffman Creek, Stone Creek, and the headwaters of Sweetwater Creek, dictates the placement of the sparse road network. These tracks, such as Sweetwater Road, follow the natural contours of Bachelor Canyon and Axes Canyon, connecting the isolated ranches to the wider region.