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1886 Map of Fort Logan

Name: 1886 Topographic Map of Fort Logan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1886
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1886

About this map

The Smith River and Ft Logan anchor the eastern landscape of this frontier-era survey, which captures the burgeoning settlement patterns of central Montana during the 1880s. The map illustrates a region transitioning from isolated military outposts to established mining and agricultural communities. Notable early centers like Radersburg and the nearby Crow Creek City reflect the importance of the southern valleys, while the Missouri River corridor facilitates travel via landmarks like Cañon Ferry and Townsend.

The presence of Confederate Gulch suggests the legacy of the gold rush era, a time when prospectors fanned out into the surrounding drainages. Transportation and commerce are evidenced by the network of tracks connecting Spokane House, Clancy, and Junction. From the thermal waters of Sulphur Spring to the various creeks like Six Mile Creek and Sixteen Mile Creek, the map details a territory being systematically organized into the counties of Meagher, Lewis and Clarke, Jefferson, and Gallatin.