1963 Map of Gorham NW

About this map

Whitetail Creek and Blacktail Creek define the complex drainage patterns of this Billings County landscape during the early 1960s. The terrain is characterized by a dense network of watercourses and deep coulees, including Mikes Creek and the southern reaches of Ash Coulee. A single industrial landmark, a Scoria Pit, provides evidence of local resource extraction within the otherwise undeveloped badlands. These features, documented through 1961 aerial photography and verified by 1963 field checks, illustrate the remote and sparsely settled nature of western North Dakota at this time. The map provides a detailed view of the natural topography and the limited human infrastructure in the region, centered on the intersections of Townships 142, 143, and 144 North.