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1965 Map of Coal Mine Hill

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Coal Mine Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The Larb Hills define the high ground of this central Montana landscape, where the terrain breaks away into an intricate network of drainage channels. Ranching operations like the Spencer Ranch and Barnard Ranch represent the primary human imprint on this expansive rangeland during the mid-1960s. The topography is characterized by distinctive formations such as Square Butte and Barnard Buttes, rising above the surrounding coulees and creek beds.

Water management and natural drainage are central to the area's layout, with Telegraph Creek and Smith Creek carving through the southern sections. The names of the landforms, including Coal Mine Hill and Coal Mine Coulee, hint at the geological resources underlying the surface, while features like Shoemaker Gap provide natural points of passage through the hills. This survey, completed as part of the Missouri River Basin development program, captures the rural character of Phillips County before modern shifts in land use.