1952 Map of Conata

About this map

The Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad bisects the northern plains of this territory, providing a critical transportation link for the small settlement of Conata. This 1952 edition illustrates a landscape defined by sharp transitions between the upland buttes and the drainage basin of the White River, which snakes along the Reservation Boundary. South of this line lies the expansive Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the terrain rises toward the namesake Pine Ridge heights. The map records a complex system of seasonal drainage, including Redwater Creek, and identifies prominent landmarks like Hurley Butte and Keller Butte that served as navigational waypoints in this portion of South Dakota. The survey highlights the intersection of several county lines, including the boundary between Pennington and Shannon counties, capturing the geopolitical layout of the region during the mid-century.