1981 Map of High Elk Hill SW

About this map

Cottonwood Creek winds through this section of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, carving a drainage pattern through the Ziebach County landscape. This 1981 survey documents the established cattle ranching operations that define the area's rural economy and land use during the late twentieth century. Family-named landmarks such as Collins Ranch and Geno Hunt Ranch serve as primary anchors in this sparse terrain, reflecting the long-standing livestock traditions of South Dakota's western plains. The map also traces the courses of Dupree Creek and Rudy Creek, which alongside a strategically placed Well, provide the essential water infrastructure for these remote ranching outposts. This detailed topographic study illustrates the relationship between these water sources and the local road network that connects these isolated homesteads across the prairie.