1971 Map of Hay Creek

About this map

Hay Creek and its many tributaries define this section of the rangeland in Harding County, where drainage patterns across the high plains dictate the movement of both water and travel. Mapped in the early 1970s, the landscape is marked by a complex network of seasonal watercourses including Bull Creek, Jones Creek, and Boxelder Creek. The passage of State Route 85 provides the primary north-south corridor through the territory, crossing the western half of the sheet. One distinctive detail provided by this survey is the inclusion of fence and field lines, noted as being visible on 1970 aerial photography. These boundaries, alongside the scattered Sheep Creek and Jack Creek drainages, offer a clear look at the large-scale livestock grazing operations that characterize this corner of South Dakota.