1954 Map of Ekalaka

About this map

Powder River and Boxelder Creek define the drainage patterns of this southeastern Montana landscape as it appeared in the mid-1950s. The region is characterized by isolated settlements and extensive ranching lands, with the Custer National Forest providing significant timber and grazing tracts. Small hubs like Ekalaka, Broadus, and Alzada serve as anchors for the rural population, while landmarks such as Capitol Rock and Belltower Butte rise above the surrounding terrain. Local education is represented by the isolated Hay Creek School, and industrial activity is evidenced by a developing Oil Field and various Gravel Pit sites. The map also records the complex jurisdictional boundaries where Montana meets Wyoming and South Dakota, showing the early infrastructure of roads like Highway 212 connecting the various creek-side communities.