1956 Map of Horse Butte

About this map

Horse Butte rises as a central landmark in this mid-1950s survey of Stillwater County terrain, where the drainage patterns of the North Fork Cottonwood Creek and South Fork Cottonwood Creek carve through the landscape. The map reveals early industrial activity at a Strip Mine located in the northwest, contrasting with the numerous Springs and named watercourses like Swamp Creek and Tilden Creek that define the area's hydrology. Elevation data is anchored by the VABM Peterson 4419 survey station, while the southern reach shows the engineered path of the Cove Ditch. This document captures the intersection of natural watershed geography and the beginning of resource extraction in the Missouri River Basin development era.