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1953 Map of Hermosa

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Hermosa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Hermosa sits at the junction of rail and river in the mid-1950s, serving as a focal point for the surrounding Black Hills ranching country. The Chicago and North Western railroad bisects the landscape, running parallel to the north-south drainage of Billover Creek and passing directly through the heart of the settlement. The convergence of Battle Creek and Grace Coolidge Creek south of town underscores the importance of reliable water sources in this environment, where the land is marked by numerous Windmill sites and a localized Reservoir.

South of the village, the terrain shifts into the more dramatic topography of L 7 Draw, while the border between Pennington and Custer Counties cuts across the northern reaches. Evidence of early industry and local infrastructure is preserved through the marking of a Gravel Pit, a prominent Tower, and the town's small Cemetery, offering a detailed view of the community's footprint before later 20th-century developments.