Loading map...

1905 Map of Harlem

Name: 1905 Topographic Map of Harlem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1905
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1905

About this map

The Milk River valley serves as the central artery for this 1903 survey, revealing an early 20th-century landscape of agricultural expansion and infrastructure. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the northern reaches of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, while the town of Harlem sits as a vital rail point along the Great Northern R R. This era saw significant investment in water management to support homesteading, evidenced by the presence of a Dam and several irrigation channels including the Harlem Canal and the Paradise Canal.

Away from the river bottom, the terrain transitions into the breaks and coulees of Thirtymile Creek and its various forks. Early ranching outposts such as Sorterstorm's Ranch and Arbagaste Ranch are documented, providing specific locations for genealogists and local historians interested in the early settlement of Chouteau County before later county divisions. Smaller sidings like Madras mark the importance of the railroad in connecting these remote ranching areas to the broader market.