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1972 Map of Hamilton Draw

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Hamilton Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Custer National Forest boundary defines much of this southeastern Montana landscape, where the confluence of Rosebud, Big Horn, and Powder River counties creates a complex map of high-plains ranching and water management. During the early 1970s, this area was characterized by an extensive network of small-scale water improvements, including the Hamilton Draw Reservoir, Lee Creek Reservoir, and Round Cow Reservoir. These scattered catchments, paired with numerous named water sources like Loggins Spring and Fossil Spring, suggest a terrain heavily utilized for livestock grazing.

Transportation throughout the draws is almost entirely dependent on a network of Jeep Trails, winding through the drainages of Hamilton Draw and Davidson Draw. Land use is further evidenced by several Gravel Pits and isolated wells, indicating the localized extraction and utility infrastructure necessary to maintain this remote ranching territory. Notable landmarks such as Spring Hoover and Handley Spring provide specific points of reference for genealogists and local historians tracing family holdings in this tri-county border region.