1973 Map of Griffin

About this map

The high plains of southwestern North Dakota are documented here in the early 1970s, defined by the prominent Medicine Pole Hills and a network of ephemeral watercourses. The settlement of Griffin serves as a small rail hub along the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, which cuts across the northern half of the landscape. The map reveals the area's industrial leanings through numerous extractive sites, including several Scoria Pits and Gravel Pits concentrated near the rail line and along the township boundaries of Marion, Hart, Adelaide, and Rhame. Natural drainage is provided by Turkey Creek, Cold Spring Creek, and Alkali Creek, which snake through the coulees and draws typical of Bowman County's topography. The detailed surveying captures the intersection of the railroad economy with the rural ranching landscape, highlighted by numerous springs and windmills scattered across the open range.