1986 Map of Dry Blood Creek West

About this map

Dry Blood Creek and its seasonal drainage network define the broken topography of this Petroleum County landscape as it appeared in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. The map illustrates a high-plains environment where water is the primary architect of the land, evidenced by the deeply incised paths of South Fork Dry Blood Creek and Box Elder Creek. The absence of named towns or major infrastructure highlights the expansive, open nature of this part of Montana, where land use was primarily centered on ranching and resource management. Historically-minded researchers can trace the natural corridors of Fords Creek, noting how the drainage patterns dictated the placement of unimproved roads and cattle trails across the plains. This provisional study serves as a clear record of the area's physical geography before modern digital mapping, preserving the specific watercourse names used by local residents and ranchers during this era.