1953 Map of Havre

About this map

The Milk River corridor serves as the primary artery for settlement and commerce across this Northern Montana landscape, carrying the Burlington Northern railroad through essential agricultural hubs like Havre, Chinook, and Harlem. The map captures a complex jurisdictional geography, where the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation meet the expansive public lands and wildlife sanctuaries of the Hi-Line. In the south, the Bearpaw Mountains rise sharply, punctuated by peaks such as Baldy Mountain and Mount Reynolds, contrasting with the northern prairie coulees. This 1974 revision documents a Cold War-era military presence at the Havre A/F Station and the industrial development of an Oil Field south of the river, alongside critical water management features like the Fresno Reservoir and the Weigand Reservoir that supported the region's ranching economy.