1920 Map of Conrad

About this map

The Marias River winds across this northern Montana landscape, anchoring a region defined by early 20th-century agriculture and rail expansion. As an advance sheet compiled by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army under Col. Chas. L. Potter, the map illustrates the critical infrastructure of the era, specifically the Great Northern R. R. running north-south through the plains. The town of Conrad serves as a primary hub, joined by the Montana Western R. R. which stretches westward. Tracing the section lines reveals the organized settlement patterns of the day, with rural community centers like Ledger, Brady, and Dunkirk positioned along the iron rails. Of particular interest to genealogists are the locations of Omholt P. O. and Gates P. O., providing precise locations for early postal service points that served the surrounding homesteads and ranching operations near Pondera Coulee.