Loading map...

1950 Map of Fairfield

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Fairfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Fairfield stands at the heart of an engineered agricultural landscape in north-central Montana, defined by a dense grid of roads and an intricate irrigation network. This mid-century survey, mapped by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation, illustrates the transformation of the high plains through the Greenfield Main Canal and its numerous laterals, including the First Bench Canal and Second Bench Canal. These waters diverted from the Sun River allowed for the settlement of the Bole Bench and surrounding flats, creating a structured township system visible in the numbered roads from First Road North to Sixth Road North.

Transportation corridors are vital to the area's development, featuring the Great Northern and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads. The map captures the small community of Ashuelot and specialized infrastructure like the Fairfield Airstrip and various flumes. Along the southern edge, the terrain drops toward the river valley, marked by Rocky Reef and several coulees, such as Blacktail Coulee, which disrupt the otherwise orderly irrigation grid.