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1951 Map of Grosfield Ranch

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Grosfield Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The homesteads and ranches of the Missouri River Basin project area define this Montana landscape as it appeared in the mid-20th century. Named landmarks like the Grosfield Ranch and Buffalo Jump Ranch anchor the local geography, while several earlier properties are noted as being already unoccupied, including the Langus Homestead, Vik Homestead, and Iverson Homestead. The map shows a clear reliance on water management for agriculture, with numerous Ditch labels indicating irrigation networks carved out to serve these isolated valley dwellings.

Waterways like South Fork Timber Creek and Swamp Creek wind through the hills, providing essential resources for cattle and hay operations. High ground such as Whitetail Ridge separates the creek drainages, while several canyons like Long Gulch and Bear Gulch create a complex topography. This survey, compiled from 1948 aerial photography and 1951 field checks, provides a precise look at the family-named homesteading patterns that once shaped Sweet Grass County before many of these early claims reverted to larger ranch holdings.