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1972 Map of Flag Butte

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Flag Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The high plains of the Campbell County and Crook County border are defined here by a landscape of rugged draws and energy exploration in the early 1970s. Dramatic topographic features like Flag Butte and Flatiron Butte rise above the complex drainage systems of Deadman Creek and the Little Missouri River. This area represents a period of active industrial utility, marked by a high density of drill holes, oil wells, and gas wells scattered across the undulating terrain.

Remote ranching life persists at the Wagonhammer Ranch in the southwest corner, situated near the Mitchell Breaks and Mitchell Creek. Evidence of modern infrastructure is sparse but notable, including a Landing Strip for aerial access and a strategically placed Radio Tower. The map traces numerous seasonal watercourses like Wolf Draw and Herder Draw, which feed into the larger creek systems, illustrating the intricate hydrology of this Wyoming upland before extensive modern development altered the footprint of the oil fields.