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1901 Map of Hamilton

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Hamilton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

Hamilton serves as the focal point of the Bitterroot Valley at the turn of the century, positioned where the valley floor meets the imposing Bitterroot Mountains. This 1901 survey documents an era of significant agricultural and industrial investment, evidenced by an intricate network of irrigation canals such as the Republican Ditch, Surprise Ditch, and Hedge Ditch. These man-made watercourses redirect flows from the high mountain drainages like Blodgett Creek and Canyon Creek to support the growing settlements of Victor, Corvallis, and Woodside.

Mineral extraction is noted in the northern hills at the Curlew Mines and the Bluebird Mine, while the Northern Pacific Railway Bitterroot Branch provides the essential transportation link connecting these resources to broader markets. The map also delineates the high-altitude wilderness along the Idaho-Montana Boundary Line, featuring prominent peaks like El Capitan and numerous glacial basins such as Big Creek Lakes and Canyon Lake.