1953 Map of Cottonwood Draw

About this map

Antelope Creek and Cottonwood Draw define the drainage patterns of this Meade County landscape, where the high plains meet deep-cut draws and ridges. Based on fieldwork completed in the early 1950s, the map documents a sparse, rural environment focused on the natural watercourses that sustain life in this semi-arid region. Evidence of early local education is found at the Hall Sch (Abandoned), which stands as a quiet marker of changing population density and shifting rural school districts in the mid-20th century. To the south, Elk Creek and Morris Creek flow through the breaks, illustrating the rugged hydrological network that dictates the placement of trails and ranch boundaries across the South Dakota prairie.