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1976 Map of Great Falls North

Name: 1976 Topographic Map of Great Falls North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

Great Falls and the industrial activity along the Missouri River anchor the southeastern corner of this landscape, where a series of dams including Cochrane Dam, Rainbow Dam, and Black Eagle Dam harness the water's power. The map captures a transition from the urban and military footprint of Malmstrom Air Force Base to the agricultural expanse of the Greenfield Bench and Bole Bench. Irrigation is central to the regional economy, evidenced by the Greenfields Main Canal and Greenfields South Canal that cut across the prairie to support farming communities like Fairfield and Vaughn.

Further north, the wilder terrain of the Teton River and Teton Ridge dominates, characterized by numerous coulees such as Timber Coulee and Kinnerely Coulee. The Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge provides a significant preserved wetland within the drainage basin. Historical transport routes are well-defined, including the Burlington Northern rail lines and the Old Valley Grade, which connect small grain-handling settlements like Dutton, Power, and Collins.