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1909 Map of Glendive

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Glendive
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

The Yellowstone River and Missouri River converge at the northern edge of this 1909 survey, defining a landscape of early homesteading and frontier ranching along the Montana-North Dakota border. Local development centers on the Northern Pacific rail line at Glendive, while the river valleys support a string of settlements including Sidney, Fairview, and Mondak. The presence of a Coal Mine and Coal Banks indicates the early utilization of the region's lignite resources, essential for power and heating in this treeless environment.

Family history is preserved through dozens of named ranch sites such as Goodwins Ranch and Jacksons Ranch, alongside natural landmarks like Custers Lookout and Eagle Butte. The terrain transitions from the alluvial Belle Prairie to the dissected Badlands near Sioux Pass, illustrating the geographic challenges faced by early settlers before modern irrigation and road networks transformed the High Plains.