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1966 Map of Elk Basin NW

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Elk Basin NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Industrial development and physical geography meet at the Montana-Wyoming border in this mid-1960s study. The landscape is dominated by the Silver Tip Oil Field and the northern portion of the Elk Basin Oil Field, where numerous roads and a Drill Hole highlight the extraction activity of the era. These oil fields are situated amidst a rugged drainage system characterized by the Big Sand Coulee and Silver Tip Creek, showcasing the complex topography that workers navigated during the mid-century petroleum boom.

To the south, the flat expanse of Polecat Bench provides a stark contrast to the dissected terrain of the basins. A network of primitive transit routes, including a prominent Jeep Trail, provides evidence of the area's accessibility for resource exploration. The map also delineates the precise boundary where Carbon and Park Counties meet at the state line, making it a critical record for understanding regional jurisdictional and industrial history.