1957 Map of Fairburn SW

About this map

The South Fork French Creek and Cottonwood Creek carve through the high plains of Custer County in this mid-century topographic study. The landscape is defined by its drainage patterns and the sparse remnants of early ranching-era infrastructure. The most striking social detail is the presence of multiple defunct educational sites, including the South Fork Sch, Cottonwood Sch, and Hill View Sch. Their status as abandoned landmarks by the 1950s indicates a significant shift in rural population and the consolidation of rural school districts in the Black Hills region. In the southern portion of the quadrangle, the terrain transitions toward Lame Johnny Creek, showing a rugged network of draws and ridges that once supported these isolated homesteading communities.