2011 Map of Coffin Buttes

About this map

Selma Union Cemetery sits in the southeastern corner of this Grant County landscape, providing a primary point of interest for genealogical research in this sparsely populated stretch of North Dakota. The terrain is characterized by its creek systems and distinct topographic rises, most notably the eponymous Coffin Buttes and the high point at Jacks Lookout. Water resources are concentrated around Pretty Rock Lake in the north and the drainages of Sheep Creek, Brushy Creek, and Alkali Creek. The map details a strictly rectilinear grid of section-line roads, such as 78th Ave SW and 85th St SW, which define the agricultural layout of the region. This 2011 survey captures the enduring rural character of the Great Plains, where land use is dictated by the subtle drainage patterns of the prairie.