1903 Map of Coopers Lake

About this map

Lewis and Clarke Forest Reserve covers the heart of this 1900 survey, where the Continental Divide winds through the high peaks of the Alice Mountains and Scapegoat Mt.. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of the Blackfoot River and Dearborn River, reflecting an era of early high-country ranching and mineral exploration. Scattered homesteads like Walrath's Ranch and Smith's Ranch dot the valley floors near Swallow Canyon, while small-scale industrial operations such as White's Sawmill and the Klondike Mine suggest a localized economy based on timber and ore. In the south, Kleinschmidt Flat provides a rare expanse of level ground near the settlement of Evans, positioned along the boundary between Lewis and Clark and Powell counties. The presence of several Copper Camps and the Porto Rico Mine highlights the prospecting activity that shaped the development of this Montana wilderness.