1954 Map of Hessler Ridge

About this map

The Missouri River defines the northern boundary of this landscape, winding past the alluvial flats of McNulty Bottoms, Gardipee Bottoms, and Bell Bottoms. This mid-century survey captures a section of the Fort Peck Game Range in Central Montana, where the terrain rises sharply from the riverbank into a complex system of breaks and coulees. The small settlement of Armells sits near the head of its namesake creek, serving as a rare point of human habitation in a region characterized by dramatic elevation changes. Centered on Hessler Ridge, the map reveals a remote geography of high ridges and deep drainages like Musselman Gulch and Roach Gulch. Land use is primarily dictated by the Range Boundary, illustrating the division between managed wildlife habitat and the high prairie ranching country typical of Fergus County.