1984 Map of Garland Creek

About this map

Cottonwood Creek meanders through the breaks and uplands of Phillips County, carving a distinct drainage pattern across this north-central Montana landscape. The terrain is defined by a network of coulees and ridges that converge toward the primary waterway, showing the intricate erosion patterns characteristic of the region. As recorded during fieldwork in the late 1970s, the map illustrates the sparse, open character of the high plains, where water remains the primary shaping force of the land. Garland Creek serves as a secondary drainage, marking a significant topographical transition in the eastern portion of the quadrangle. This provisional survey captures the area before modern developments, preserving a moment when the land was defined almost entirely by its natural hydrology and the section lines of the Public Land Survey System.