1974 Map of Grassy Butte SW

About this map

Rhoades terrain dominates this 1970s landscape along the border of McKenzie and Billings counties. The geography is defined by the incision of the Little Knife River and a series of drainage systems including Beicegel Creek, Spring Creek, and North Creek. Human settlement is sparse and utilitarian, represented by the Grassy Butte Ch and the rural Ruf Sch, illustrating the dispersed community structure of the North Dakota badlands during this period. Local industry and resource extraction are grounded in the earth, as evidenced by a Scoria Pit located in the southern portion of the quadrangle. The map captures a moment when the regional identity remained tied to grazing land and small-scale community landmarks before modern infrastructure developments further altered the connectivity of these prairie counties.