1954 Map of Grand Island

About this map

The Missouri River carves a deep valley through the high plains of Central Montana, defining the boundary between Phillips and Fergus Counties. This mid-century survey documents a landscape dominated by the Fort Peck Game Range, where the river’s course is interrupted by prominent features like Grand Island and the smaller Upper Two Calf I and Lower Two Calf Island. The terrain is characterized by intricate drainage systems such as Reed Coulee and Two Calf Creek, which feed into the river from the surrounding high ground of Barnes Ridge and Knox Ridge. This area shows a transition toward organized land management in the post-war era, evidenced by the presence of a Landing Strip and established survey points like VABM Crystal 3097. The alluvial flats of Kendall Bottoms represent the rare level ground in an otherwise highly dissected breaks landscape.