1986 Map of Grass Range NW

About this map

Black Butte rises prominently above the rolling landscape of central Fergus County in this mid-1980s provisional survey. The map details a transition from the elevated terrain in the northwest down toward the drainages of South Fork Bear Creek and Brickyard Creek. This area of Montana reflects a primarily agricultural and ranching character, anchored by the presence of the Bell Ranch Colony in the southern portion of the quadrangle. Local industry and infrastructure are represented by a Gravel Pit near the base of the hills, while the southern boundary follows the path of Fords Creek. The intricate contour lines illustrate a landscape carved by seasonal waterways and intermittent springs, typical of the high plains of the American West before modern intensive development.