1980 Map of Elkhorn Creek SW

About this map

Owl Creek and its various tributaries define the drainage patterns of this southeastern Montana landscape in Carter County. The terrain is characterized by a dense network of intermittent watercourses and draws, reflecting a semi-arid environment where water management and seasonal flows were essential for local ranching operations. Significant drainages like Twelvemile Creek and Ninemile Creek suggest a nomenclature based on distance or travel intervals common in early frontier surveying. In the southern portion of the quadrangle, the South Fork Owl Creek and Crow Creek converge near sections of the Custer National Forest boundary. This 1980 map, based on aerial photography from the early 1970s, captures the land before significant modern development, showing a grid of section lines and unimproved roads that provided access to this remote rangeland.