2017 Map of Elm Creek

About this map

The Belle Fourche River winds through the heart of this Meade County landscape, carving a wide alluvial valley defined by its deep meanders and associated drainage systems. This 2017 study illustrates the sparse, rural nature of the northern Black Hills periphery, where land use is dominated by large-scale ranching and open range. The river is the primary geographical anchor, joined by Fourmile Cr in the north and the eponymous Elm Creek which feeds into the valley from the east. Transportation is limited to a handful of gravel routes, most notably Alkali Rd and Star Ranch Rd, which follow the contours of the high plains. The map reveals the characteristic grid of the Public Land Survey System, with township boundaries like t6n r8e and t5n r9e marking the sectioned territory of the South Dakota prairie.