Loading map...

1979 Map of Gage

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Gage
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Musselshell River winds through this central Montana landscape, defining the corridor for the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad. Near the settlement of Gage, the rail line and river parallel one another through a valley of northern tributaries like Willow Creek and southern drainages including Parrot Creek and Barrigan Coulee. The map illustrates a region transitioning from river-bottom ranching and transport to upland extraction, evidenced by several industrial sites scattered across the township lines.

Energy extraction and mining history are central to this area of Musselshell County. The presence of the Jeffries Mine, Western Mine, and the No 4 Mine indicates a concentrated effort to tap into the local coal seams or mineral resources during the 1970s. These sites, along with smaller features like a Gravel Pit and the residential label of Blue Streak Downs, provide a specific look at the rural economy before modern consolidation.