1983 Map of Coal Springs

About this map

Coal Springs and its surrounding prairie landscape are defined by the winding drainage systems of Whitney Creek and Darling Creek in this 1980s-era topographical record of Perkins County. The map captures a rural South Dakota environment where land use is marked by remote infrastructure, including Nelson Airstrip and Dunn Airstrip. The central water management at Coal Springs Dam provides a significant landmark for the region, while the presence of the Foster area suggests localized land divisions or ranching interests. This provisional survey preserves the exact placement of ranch roads and survey lines, such as the prominent east-west Line, showing how transportation and property boundaries were established across the high plains. The drainage patterns of Surveyor Creek and the elevation marker at Lyon further illustrate the subtle but critical topography that guided early settlement and grazing in this part of the state.