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1956 Map of Ditch Creek

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Ditch Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

High-country ranching and mineral exploration define this portion of the Black Hills National Forest in the mid-1950s. The landscape is dotted with family-run operations such as the Herman Matt Ranch, Hoar Ranch, and Tony Matt Ranch, established on the open ground of Gillette Prairie. These homesteads relied on a network of springs and drainages, including Heely Spring and the waters of Castle Creek, to sustain life in the Pennington County uplands.

Mining interests are evident through the Accidental Mine and the Star-Penn Lode Mine, reflecting the ongoing search for resources that characterized the region's economy. The terrain transitions from the broad flats of the prairie into the steep descent of Gillette Canyon. This survey, conducted in cooperation with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, captures a moment when traditional livestock ranching and modern geological prospecting shared the same high-altitude meadows.