1966 Map of Goodspeed Butte

About this map

Custer National Forest dominates this mid-1960s landscape in Powder River County, revealing a terrain shaped by the vital necessity of water management in eastern Montana. The map is densely marked with livestock-related infrastructure, including numerous small reservoirs and named springs that sustained the local ranching economy. Features like the Goodspeed Draw Reservoir, Howes Reservoir, and Elk Creek Reservoir No 3 are scattered across the draws and coulees, illustrating how land was utilized within the national forest boundaries. Historical industrial activity is evidenced by labels such as Elk Creek Sawmill Spring and Taylor Creek Sawmill Spring, pointing to localized timber processing near the headwaters of the regional drainage systems. Notable landmarks like Goodspeed Butte and the winding course of Lyon Creek provide geographic anchors for a region defined by its isolated springs and water catchment basins.