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2017 Map of Elkhorn Creek East

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Elkhorn Creek East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Elkhorn Creek and its neighboring drainages define the landscape of this high plains region where the borders of South Dakota and Montana meet. This area, spanning portions of Butte and Harding counties in South Dakota and Carter County in Montana, is characterized by a complex network of intermittent watercourses that have carved the terrain over generations. The convergence of these political boundaries highlights the administrative divisions within the expansive public land system, marked by township and range designations like t15n r1e and t7s r62e.

Tracing the drainage patterns reveals local landmarks such as Beaver Dam Creek and South Beaver Dam Creek in the north, while the southern reaches are shaped by North Indian Creek and the evocatively named Frozen Horse Creek. These water sources were vital for the early ranching operations that defined settlement patterns in this arid borderland. The intricate topography shown here illustrates the natural barriers and pathways that shaped the movement of people and livestock across the state line.