1984 Map of Dead Horse Coulee

About this map

Frenchman Creek defines the eastern edge of this Phillips County landscape, winding through a region characterized by a complex network of seasonal drainages and cattle-country terrain. The map captures the area as it was surveyed in the mid-1970s, showing a sparse human footprint centered around the Cem and local creek systems. Significant watercourses including Cottonwood Creek and the namesake Dead Horse Coulee carve through the high plains, providing essential drainage for the surrounding basins. Smaller tributaries like Stinky Creek and Bohner Coulee illustrate the intricate erosion patterns typical of the Montana breaks. The absence of major settlements emphasizes the rural, ranching character of the land, where geographic orientation relies on the junctions of the East Fork and various named coulees such as Corral Coulee and Peek Coulee.