1986 Map of Hopley Creek South

About this map

The Musselshell River defines the central axis of this Wheatland County landscape, where the terrain transitions from high plateaus to the fertile bottomlands of the river valley. The presence of an Old Railroad Grade running parallel to the river highlights the historical reliance on rail transport for moving livestock and agricultural goods in central Montana. Evidence of the ranching economy is scattered across the sheet, from a lonely Corral on the northern benches to the network of water sources including Mexican John Creek and Hopley Creek. A local Canal and several small Spring sites suggest the critical importance of water management in this semi-arid environment. Further south, the landscape is dissected by drainage systems such as Milton Creek and Mud Creek, providing a detailed look at the geographic infrastructure supporting the region's rural character during the mid-1980s.