2017 Map of Fort Shaw

About this map

The Sun River corridor south of Great Falls defines the irrigation and settlement patterns of this landscape, anchored by the historic community of Fort Shaw. This area serves as a focal point for researchers interested in the agrarian development of Cascade County, where an extensive network of water works including the Greenfield S Canal, Mill Coulee Canal, and the Sun River Valley Ditch underscores the region's reliance on managed water. The map traces the land's elevation through distinct geographic markers like the Second Bench, First Bench, and the prominent Ashuelot Bench. Near the river, the Fort Shaw Cem provides a tangible link to the area's early residents. Further north, the settlement of Ashuelot sits along the highway, while the rugged Blackfoot Coulee and Rocky Reef break up the flat agricultural expanses, illustrating the varied terrain of the Montana plains.