1903 Map of Fort McKinney

About this map

Buffalo serves as the primary hub of Johnson County at the turn of the century, situated at the edge of the Big Horn Mountains. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling Fort Mc Kinney Military Reservation and its adjacent Wood Reservation, illustrating the strategic importance of the area during the late frontier era. The cattle-ranching economy is evident through several named spreads, including the T A Ranch and Cross H Ranch. Water management and natural resources are centered around the prominent Lake De Smet and the various forks of Crazy Woman Creek, which carve through the foothills. A transition from high mountain forest in the Bighorn National Forest to the open plains of the east is captured here, with early tracks and roads connecting small outposts like Klondike and Greub.