2020 Map of Coffin Buttes

About this map

The northern plains of Grant County are defined by a sparse, high-prairie landscape where drainage patterns and localized water sources dictated the rhythm of rural life. Pretty Rock Lake serves as a primary geographic anchor in this section of the state, surrounded by the township and range grids of the Public Land Survey System. The terrain is characterized by a series of buttes and low-lying basins that reflect the post-glacial geology of the region. This survey, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey using data from the National Hydrography Dataset and National Elevation Dataset, provides a clear record of the section lines and rural road networks that have remained largely unchanged for generations. The isolation of these water bodies and landforms highlights the endurance of the agricultural infrastructure in this part of North Dakota.