1980 Map of Cotton Creek

About this map

Billings Bench Water Association Canal cuts across the southern portion of this landscape, illustrating the critical role of engineered irrigation in Montana's agricultural development during the late 20th century. This area is defined by a series of branching drainages that move water through the high plains, including Pompeys Pillar Creek and its West Fork in the northeast, and the North Fork Cotton Creek winding through the center. Numerous scattered wells across the terrain suggest active resource extraction or water management, while the presence of Rock Creek and Razor Creek further defines the hydrological network. The mapping reveals a sparse, rural pattern where water access, both natural and man-made, dictates the utility of the land.