1961 Map of Cottonwood SE

About this map

Washburn Ridge stands as a prominent elevation in this Jackson County landscape, overlooking the drainages of Big Buffalo Creek and Fifteen Creek. The 1961 field check captures a western South Dakota ranching environment defined by numerous small water management features, including Arke Dam, Martin Dam, McHenry Dam, and Dobs Dam. These artificial impoundments suggest the critical importance of water conservation for livestock in the semi-arid terrain of the Big Buffalo and Little Buffalo regions.